Meaning morphs through usage, and languages evolve alongside the civilizations that employ them. That’s why some words that used to mean one thing now mean something completely different. That’s also why dictionaries routinely add new words to lexical lists.
Here’s the challenge: we’re running out of words to describe 2020.
“Unprecedented” stops meaning what it’s supposed to mean when it is applied to every circumstance, every day, for months at a time.
Likewise, “shocking,” “incomprehensible,” and “egregious.” These words only accurately apply to things that are rare, things that are out of the ordinary. A routine that is shocking, incomprehensible, and egregious is… a contradiction in terms.
I have a few suggestions to help us speak clearly about how we are living now, with the earnest hope that these words will become defunct and anachronistic more quickly than they have become necessary. Ahem.
“Pandemania” – a global state of manic chaos attendant on a viral pandemic
“Covidepression” – sad, tired, heaviness of heart proceeding from living through Covid-19; often accompanied by carbo-loading in the absence of any movement whatsoever
“Cynicyclopsism” – the condition of seeing the world through a mono-focused, cynical perspective, based on experiences of 2020
“Presidentures” – appliances needed for protection during weeks of teeth-grinding / jaw clenching / etc. around the present (ongoing) Presidential election
“Secedemon” – the spiritual impetus to secede from humanity
“Samaritanagonism” – the urge to beat your neighbor and leave him by the side of the road
Okay. Obviously (hopefully obviously!) I’m joking with most of those words. But the uncomfortable truth behind the parody is that meaning isn’t the only thing morphing, willy-nilly, these days.
Everywhere you look, “flux” is the new normal.
Public health has been a kaleidoscope of gloom and doom and shifting grimness since February. The political landscape is undergoing an ongoing earthquake shakedown. Our culture’s habitual movers and shakers (Hollywood! Professional sports!) are now the most sequestered and locked down.
As we wait to hear what’s going to happen next (knowing that, whatever is coming, it’s sure to be unprecedented and likely to also be shocking, incomprehensible, and egregious), I suggest a shift in emphasis. Let’s think permanence. Let’s recall that which is NOT in question. Let’s ruminate on that which is settled – never to be re-visited or re-written or even put to a vote. Stable. Rock-solid. Sure and certain. Ready?
- The sovereignty of God. God made everything and everyone. God reigns over everything and everyone. God is impervious to commentary otherwise. (Saying you don’t believe in God is like saying you don’t believe in gravity… your opinion is your own, but your feet stay firmly on the ground, nonetheless.)
- The all-sufficiency of Christ’s salvation. Jesus died once, for all. Jesus proclaimed “It is finished.” Jesus is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” We may not see the completion of our salvation, but we can trust Jesus in a way that we can’t trust our own eyes. Our race is over; and, in Jesus, it’s won.
- The presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Circumstances are no match for the Spirit – just read Acts if you need reminding! In fact, darkest times are often when the Spirit’s most dazzling acts of illumination occur… and the Spirit is active and alive and with us.
- The trustworthiness of God’s truth as set forth in God’s Word. “All scripture is God-breathed and useful” (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word “is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5) God’s Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, and functions as the sword of the Spirit in our defense. Even Jesus relied on scripture – “it is written…” – to defeat Satan and temptation.
Jesus called it: “In this world you will face troubles.” That’s a certainty – always has been, always will be. But Jesus also offered consolation: “But take heart, I have overcome this world.” (John 16:33)
Friends, in our battle against pandemania, covidepression, secedemonic urges and cynicyclopsistic Samaritanagonism – we have more than presidentures to help us endure! We have God, the Father, Sovereign forever. We have Christ, the Son, our Savior. We have the Holy Spirit, abiding within us and working in this broken world even now. We have God’s Word.
Friends, it may look like we have insecurity and disease and disorder as our portion – but looks are deceiving. Often. The truth is that we have permanent, impervious security and solace. We have purpose that persists even as nations rise and fall. We have eternity to anticipate with joy. Even now! Even now.
