The View From Here

I think that I think too much.  Wait a minute!  Oh well.

I was pondering my post on meaningless meanings and I thought that it sounded kind of bleak, in a way.  I still think that it is true in our human experience but I also think that there are things we experience that don’t follow this pattern.  A comment was left on the original post that pointed out that the words “I love you” don’t necessarily diminish in worth the more they are used.  I think they can if they are used without thought for what they mean.  When I tell my wife that I love her I feel the meaning behind the words.  Where does this kind of love come from?  It comes from God.

What I realized was that all things tend to lose their value unless they come from God.  Does the blood of Christ diminish in value the more it is applied?  No.  The things that we derive from God do not fade.  Look at the gifts of the spirit.  The joy we experience as a result of our relationship with our Savior will never fade, or the peace, or any of the words and actions that result from these things.  When we act on the gifts from God it is not what we put into it that makes it meaningful but what God puts into the action or word.  This was an amazing thought to me.  So if I try to express my love for my wife apart from God, it can quickly become empty but if I am deriving it from the overflow of His love then it will always hold meaning.  Why is this?  His love is perfect.  The things from this fallen world will always lose value but the gifts from God are eternal.

Brian

“The word ‘meaningful’ when used today is nearly always meaningless.”

–Paul Johnson

Words and their meanings are something I have thought about at length and written about here as well.  It seems that the more a word is used the less weight it has.  They become commonplace and meaningless.  Why does this happen, you ask?  A good place to start looking is economics of all places.

Basic economic theory states that the more a commodity is available, the less it will be worth.  Why are diamonds worth so much?  They are a beautiful and desirable item but their worth comes from their rarity.  If the handful of companies that controlled diamond production in the world released their stock you would see the price of diamonds plummet.  Apply this to words and you have the same outcome.  The more a word is used, the less value it has.  It is not that the meaning has changed but that, many times, people don’t think about the meaning when using it because it is so readily available to them.  Wait for the new “in” word to hit the streets and in short while it will have lost some of it’s value because everyone is saying it often.

The reason I started thinking about this originally was because of common Christian words; words uncommon in their meaning but common in their usage.  We use words like sin, grace, repentance, and even the name of Jesus so often that we often don’t take the time to think about what they mean. 

I think we can apply this concept in more ways than just that.  Look at a society that is thriving and opulent.  Happiness abounds (at least temporary happiness).  Contentedness is expected and when it is not around people are dissatisfied.  What about all the happiness that they have that they are taking for granted?  Does that mean anything to them?  Not nearly as much as it does to a society that happiness is not the normal way of life.  When pain and grief are the norm, a respite from that or a small comfort is treasured beyond anything that the people in the first society can even dream about.

When something exists in excess it tends to be devalued.  Does any of this even matter?  What does this mean for you?  You go find the answers.

Brian

Since I have been up here in Canada I have noticed a few funny things I would like to share with you. I am sure there are things like this back home but I think I notice them more up here. The first few things are some posters and signs I saw which having an iPhone made it very convenient to take pictures of them so that you can enjoy them as well. I know that these are intended to be serious but sometimes the things we take most seriously in life can also be the funniest. Click each one to see a larger version you can read.

I thought this one was funny because when I read it a Brian Regan voice pop into my head that said, “no, really……think about it”. (If you haven’t heard Brian Regan you really must) If it can cut metal do I really have to think about what it can do to me? Can you just see some one standing there, cutting metal with the thing, getting gum on their hand, and attempting to wash it off with the water gun they have? Maybe some things aren’t as obvious to some people.

This one was funny just because the guy is holding a bomb. “If it seems unsafe……” Hmmmm. Again, another Brian Regan voice, “Well, it seems…….it seems that this thing is about to blow up in my hand.”

This was in the bathroom trailer at the site. I don’t know what is in the water but we were not supposed to drink it. That isn’t even the funny part. The funny part is that someone tried to mark out the “Do Not” part of the sign. As if people would see it and think, “oh, I guess I can drink the water now”. Also, did the person who did this really think this would be a funny prank? What is in that water anyway? I am assuming it will at least make you sick hopefully not more than that. I guess they thought that if they got their co-workers sick that they would have more work to do?

This sign was on the door at the end of hallway in the lodge at which we stayed. This was the only way to get out! You had to go through this door to get back to the lobby. I guess they think they can make more money if they trap people in the hall with their rooms. Does the “all times” refer to when you need to go through it? I opened it just enough to squeeze through. I hope that is ok.

So there you have it. Serious/Funny signs in Canada. I’ll also throw this one out there. A guy I met up there kept using the phrase “once upon a day”. I guess that is the equivalent of “one time” or “one day” but I thought it was amusing too. See? My trip to Canada was completely productive.

Brian

Well, I haven’t done a random fact in a while and I am sure you are all greatly missing it.  Not to mention they are great space fillers in that they allow me to update my site with content that didn’t cost me much brain power.   Before I get to the real reason for being here, I will throw out another random fact: This post make one hundred and sixty posts that I have written here.  Who would have thought when I started this that I would get there.  Not me.  Sorry for the diversion.  On with the show!

Did you know that… 

In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.

I wonder if those little step counters from McDonald’s could keep up with that.  If that is the average person how far does the person that runs or walks for exercise go?  I wonder sometimes how they figure things like this out or if it is just made up.  Maybe I should have called this post ”Random (possibly made up) Fact (statement) #8″. I think I will.  Wow, that was kind of like time travel.  You read the title of the post first only to find out that I decided to change it at the end of the post.  That was a random thought deserving of a new “Random Thoughts” category.  Until next time.

Brian