The Depth of Words

"You will never fully understand what Miguel Cervantes was trying to say until you have read Don Quixote in Spanish. The English words are inadequate," my Spanish-speaking uncle adamantly said as I sat reading the English translation. Expressions - whether the result of poor communication or the result of translation into a foreign language - have the potential of losing the slight innuendos that bring words to life.

The depths of words escape me daily. "Mother", "love", "sacrifice" are examples of words, if read or spoken without thought, lose the tremendous impact of their meaning. I am the first to quickly trivialize such words in the rush of life.

I have recently been impressed that EACH WORD in the Bible is loaded with meaning. My recent meditations convince me of the inadequacy of my human attempts to understand the depths of the words of scripture - words like mercy, love, redemption. I can only say with the Apostle Paul,

"Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33 NIV)

This week let us not be tempted to unthinkingly glide by words. Rather let us employ the Spirit of God to illumine the richness and depth of every word spoken and the words of Scripture, not limiting their richness by our human minds.

Sharing the journey with you,