The Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that had been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 NIV

 

Fun with Words

As an English teacher, romantic at heart, realist in life, and lover of words, certain vocabulary stands out when it is spoken. I still smile when Ebeneezer Scrooge bellows out “Humbug,” in the beloved tale A Christmas Carol. As a child, I giggled when my paternal grandmother told my brother to pull up his “britches.”

Today I enjoy throwing in words that are just fun to say and make some people cock their heads. It may sound old school when I comment that youth of today are up to all kinds of “shenanigans” and “tomfoolery,” and thinking about this just might cause one to become “discombobulated,” and cause others to accuse me of making a “hullabaloo” and much “rigmarole” about nothing. I can’t help it; I ardor the English language and words.

 

Merriam-Webster’s Choice of Words

Many Christmases ago, I received a large, red Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary from my father. “For when you are in college,” my parent said.  I still treasure this gift 4 decades later. For several years, I have been intrigued by the unveiling of Merriam-Webster’s choice for their designated word of the year.

Their recent choices have included the term polarization in 2024, to which Webster replied, “We define polarization as ‘division into two sharply distinct opposites; especially, a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes’.” Word of the Year 2024 | Polarization | Merriam-Webster

And then, the word of the year for 2025.

A word that I never would have guessed, a word that is anything but sophisticated or grand. Merriam-Webster chose the word SLOP for 2025. Are you troubled by this choice of words? I certainly am. They define slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.”

Slop as the Word of the Year

My maternal grandfather, a pig farmer, was a hardworking, simple man and a veteran of the U.S. Army.  One afternoon he allowed me to follow him to the building that housed hundreds of pigs during feeding time. The bedlam and stench in this facility frightened me. The animals fed on what my grandfather called slop. A revolting concoction really.

As a child, my mother had a slop bucket of sorts. It was an old Crisco can, where the scraps from cooking and meals went to feed the dogs.  One look at the contents made me nauseous. As we fast forward to 2026, slop is the coveted word of the previous year.  Friends, this is a conundrum for certain. However, as Christ followers, we have the blessed assurance that our hope is not in this world, but in our omnipresent, omnipotent Savior, Christ the Lord. Even when the world is rolling in slop, we trust in Christ and his Word for rescue.

Damaging Words

In my younger years, I looked to the world for identity, acceptance and purpose. I listened and ruminated with a broken heart, hurtful words spoken to me. Before I chose to walk with Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him, my thoughts and worth were governed by the words and opinions of others.

What a hopeless existence, to let joy hinge on other people’s opinions and whims, their acceptance or exclusion.  Desperate for kind words and nurturing, I would often become melancholy. Careless, foolish words and labels can have lasting, profound effects on people.  This gives us cause to stop and consider our words with great care. Giving pause before responding is never in vain.

As scripture reveals in James 3:5-6 NIV “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great fire is set by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body; sets the whole course of one’s life on fire and is itself set on fire…” An image of devastation started by a tiny spark of carelessness is a terrifying visual.

In today’s world, when we often react before thinking, and shout rather than speak, we would do well to remember, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 NIV. Truthfully, I am not always successful with this and consequently, I think it pains the Father, when I rely on my own strength to navigate a difficult situation.  Rather, we would do best to walk in obedience to Him, relying on His guidance to proceed. I continue to be a work in progress, a sinner in constant need of a Savior, who sins, turns, repents, is forgiven, and then continues this journey we call life, trusting that I am growing closer to God daily.

Healing Words

Therefore, as Christ followers we must demonstrate actions and words differently from the world.  We must respond as scripture commands us to use our words mindfully and with care. “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 NIV.

Another verse inspiring the healing powers of words, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25 NIV. This makes me think about a former student who pops into my classroom occasionally to say hello.  Her sweet actions and kind words redirected my thoughts recently on a challenging day. How quickly our mood can alter by surrendering to kind words or actions. 

The Word as Defined by Scripture

As a Christ Follower, and Lover of Jesus, I look to my guide to walk this path of life.  The apostle John calls himself, “the disciple that Jesus loved.”  He spent 3 years with Jesus, an extraordinary, divine appointment.  John identifies Jesus in the first words of his Gospel as follows: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John: 1:1 NIV

The Word that John speaks of, that was from the beginning is Jesus. How do I know this to be true?  As I look ahead in the Gospel of John 1:14 it says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” NIV

 Later in 1 John 1:1, the apostle John testifies, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” NIV

John’s words as friend and apostle of Jesus give us clarity in our sin filled world.  We need only look to Jesus for truth and identity.

Moving Forward with our Words

Jesus, The Word who was from the beginning gives us life and hope, something that this world will never be able to deliver.  Everlasting joy and truth come only from our Savior Christ the Lord. He sets sinners free and gives hope and new life to those who seek him. Moving forward, a few points to ponder as we navigate this slop filled world.

*Proceed with our words carefully, allowing the Lord to “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV before blurting out our thoughts and causing serious damage to others and ourselves.

*Use our words sparingly and in love. Proverbs: 18:2 NIV “Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but delight in airing their own opinions.”

*Know that the Lord is our God. Proverbs 1:7 NIV “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  

*Delight today in the freedom, that He has defeated the grave and lives in us as followers of Christ. Psalm 119: 114 NIV “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

Heavenly Father, guide us to use words that glorify you and do not cause harm to others. Guide us to think before speaking and to use words seasoned with love and not anger. We know that your son Jesus, is The Word.  We look to The Word for truth, wisdom, and security. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen