English as an impediment to spiritual formation?

One of the great things about the English language is that it is precise. Perhaps no great example is needed than in 2014 the Global Language Monitor estimated there are 1,025,109.8 words in the English language. The number of words are so very helpful when you want to be precise and specific in life. Are you feeling mad or are you agitated, distraught, exasperated, excited, frantic, furious, livid or perhaps resentful? Whatever you are feeling, chances are English has tried to put a specific word to that emotion. 

Conversely, the Academy of the Hebrew Language estimates there are 75,000-80,000 words in the Hebrew language. If these estimates are close to true, then that means the Hebrew language has less than 8% of the amount of words in the English language. Can you imagine having to limit your language to just 8% of the words you use? 

The limited number of Hebrew words are task with carrying the unlimited ways humans experience the world. The math on this problem requires that Hebrew words are less precise and more open to interpretation than English counterparts. I would say that English words are "light" in that they do not have to carry multiple meanings since there are other words to help. Conversely, Hebrew words are "heavier" since each word carries many more meanings.

All of this setup to ask the question, does the English language with all of her specificity and preciseness actually serve as an impediment when it comes to going "deep" into our spirituality? For instance, in English, how do you know you are in fact "deep". English requires specificity and preciseness in order to know if you are deep. Is deep 2 feet or is deep 100 feet or are you not deep until you are 20,000 leagues under the sea? "Going deep" spiritually is difficult in English because you don't quite know when you are "deep". 

Going deep in Hebrew on the other hand is much more vague. The Hebrew language is more experiential and by feel. So you are know you are deep less by how many specific feet you are into the water as you trust a feeling or intuition.

There are a number of examples I can point to but when God has an opportunity to share a specific name to be called, God gives the vague name of "I am" or "I will be what I will be". Perhaps God understands that specific language is helpful in some ways, but it is a bit of an impediment to spiritual formation.   

"Open Carry" Is Not About Guns

Here in Texas we have a legal situation where one with a gun licence can now carry their approved gun(s) out in the open. While this law is new, I have yet to see things here in Texas look like the Hollywood imagery of the wild west where people walked around with holsters ready for duels at the O.K. Corral.  

The struggle that I have had with open carry is not the proliferation of guns or the access to guns or the defense of the second amendment or any other political expression. Frankly, my struggle is around what is assumed in the symbol of open carry laws.

One of the things that open carry laws assume is that a gun gives one a sense of control over their life. The scenarios that I have heard supporting the need for a person to carry a gun are around protection of a potential victim(s). The gun symbolizes a strong sense that one can be in control of the world and what happens to them. That even if something chaotic happens, like a shooter in a movie theater, then those with guns can exert some control over the situation. 

The desire for control in the world is as primal as desires come. We all have a deep need to be able to have some control over our lives. There is a peace that comes with knowing that you can do things to affect the world around you. The desire for some sense of control is reasonable, normal and natural. There are few things in this world that give a sense of control than that of a gun. It has become the ultimate symbol of a sense of control - which may be why America continues to build more weapons even though American military power is unmatched. 

And so for all that open carry means, it seems to me that at the deepest levels, open carry is not about guns. It is about a sense of control.

Much of my faith formation over these years has revolved around Jesus. Specifically how at every turn of the story of Jesus there is a story, parable, teaching or sign of letting go of control and trusting in the Spirit of God to move in the world. From Jesus submitting to be baptized by his cousin, to not arguing with his mother at a wedding, to constantly being interrupted by children and even bleeding women, to praying "thy will be done", to allowing himself to be handed over, Jesus is constantly showing us to give up the pursuit of control. 

When I study that life of Jesus I see not a pursuit of control but a pursuit of surrender. Rather than promoting open carry I am inclined to promote open arms. Like the arms of Jesus open to the children coming toward him to the arms of Jesus on the cross open as the nails are driven through them, the open arms of surrender is the posture I desire. 

My first step is to give up pursuit of control. 

*Just a word, I recognize that I write this from a position from power and one who is often able to exert more control of my surroundings than many if not most people in the world. I do not know what it is like to be in a position of powerlessness or totally out of control. Therefore, I submit the limitations of my view as one who may only need to be addressing others who also are in positions of power. 

Forget my name. That is okay. But don't forget that I am...

Within the bible is a story about Moses encountering God. It is a more iconic story you may have heard of it. In this story Moses asks God what God's name is. Specifically Moses wants to tell others that he was sent by a powerful God named _____! God responds with the phrase loosely translated as "I am what I am." 

The idea that God claims the name of "I am" is important in a number of ways in the bible, but perhaps one of the unappreciated ways is that "I am" is how humans introduce themselves to one another. "Hello, I am Jason. It is nice to meet you." 

In our culture we place a lot of emphasis on learning people's names. It is important. However, when we place the emphasis on the individual name of the person, we miss that when we introduce ourselves we are invoking the "I am" phrase. To put it another way, when we introduce ourselves we are reminding others that while I have a unique name, I also carry the name of God (I am) with me. And so do you. 

I am Jason. I have within me a mark, reside, spark of the divine. And so do you. While we may have different names, we all share the same "I am".

You can forget my name. That is okay. But don't forget that "I am" is in all of us and that we ought to treat each other as such.