Words

Words are powerful things. When used properly words carry with them meaning beyond their definition. English is perhaps the clumsiest and least specific language I have learned ( it is the only one I can actually still use, or understand). However even its words have a depth of meaning that is beyond our everyday slang use. The Proper use of words is in my opinion something being forgotten and lost in our society, Wants have become confused with needs, Like and appreciation have become things we love adore. Sacrifice has been confused with discipline.  All of this has corrupted our way of thinking and eroded our ability to express our selves in ways that carry any weight or meaning. If I mean the same thing by the two sentences " I love my wife and son" and "I love CrossFit" then I have put to much into one area or not enough in another; probably both. Is this the fault of the English language or just my own laziness. I am inclined to think the latter. i do not Love CrossFit I enjoy it, I have fun coaching and doing it, but the things I actually Love are small in number, while the things I like and enjoy are much more numerous. My Love is something I only give to a few select people. But even that differentiation is not enough. New testament greek had a number of different words for love, each with its own unique meaning. I have a small amount of friends whom I "love" but that is different then how I love my Lord and how I love my wife and How I love my son.

Think about what you mean when you use certain words, is what is coming out of your mouth really what you wanted to say. Could you choose your words more carefully? The kids in my youth group know that, I am big on Definitions and whatever we are talking about needs to be defined properly. Faith Hope and Love are important concepts in the New Testament as are Grace, Mercy and Justice, but our current usage of these words often distort the true meaning of what the authors are telling us.

It is my belief that our words in fact shape our thinking and not the other way around. If we are able to think and use our words in their true purpose, our mind and life can be more organized, things can be put in to perspective. When is comes to the gym, I often hear the excuse of  "I don't have time" I am told that this person "really wants to get in shape" or to get better but that somehow they do not have the time. Taken literally this says that everyone in my gym some how has more hours in the day than they do. We know this is not true every one has 24 hours in the day. What we truly mean is that "getting in shape" is not high enough on our list of priorities. We think we mean the same thing when we say it either way, however voicing or thinking the second changes what it actually means to us. It forces us to realize that we are actually making the choice to put other things before our health and before our stated goal. There is no cosmic force preventing us from doing what we want, instead we choose to put our time and efforts into other areas. The responsibility is on us. The choice becomes a conscious one; perhaps this is why we don't like it? Recognizing that I actually have a choice and I am choosing to be a certain way can be a hard thing, it is however a necessary thing. You may end up making the same choices but you will know why, you will no longer be able to say It is because you don't have time, but instead you choose to put your efforts elsewhere, honesty with yourself is a power full thing. Understanding the words you use and saying what you actually mean can give you control over your life. It is time to take control, be honest with your self and be deliberate with your choices. You have control of your path and where your life is headed it is time to take control and you can use words to do it.