Words

Recently, someone directed a comment to me, "You really like words, don't you?" Hmmm, I thought, am I to be comforted by such a statement, or am I to be confronted? Am I in the presence of a comforter or a confronter? Of course, such reflection immediately answered the inquirer's question. Words do interest me. Indeed, they fascinate me. Perhaps this is the blessing/curse of a preacher. As an artist sees colors, a sculptor shapes, a musician notes and harmony, a preacher sees words and thoughts constructed by those words.

I wish I had paid better attention to Mrs. Barnes, who taught me the "dead" language for three years back in high school. (BTW, do grade schools even teach Latin anymore?) If a person, preacher or not, can use language to clearly express thoughts and ideas, communication is enhanced. (A previous post addressed the paramount need for quality communication.) Confident use of language greatly improves the opportunity of the speaker/signer to be understood. Understanding one another creates a harbor for relationships. The inability to communicate well guarantees a battlefield of conflict.

A rich vocabulary can be drawn on as a painter considers the colors of the rainbow. How often have people who repair cars/appliances/equipment anguished, "I wish I had the right tool!" The best libraries have the book you're looking for or the knowledge to find it elsewhere.

The similarity of two words, comfort and confront, intrigues me. With an inadvertent stroke of the pen or keypad, a completely different meaning than intended may result. Comfort comes from the Latin confortare, which means to stengthen greatly, as in giving one strength and hope. Confront derives from the Latin confrontare, meaning to bound, as in how one bounds another in a challenge or encounter. All of this is TMI (too much information) for most readers, but that dear confrere is the prerogative of the blogger.