2/1/12

Cooth, Tooth & Truth!

I love big words. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is one. Antidisestablishmentarianism is another. I remember chanting and reciting out loud these big words unintelligibly as a young girl from my front porch (at the same time while spitting seeds from my juicy pomegranate!)

Since I have aged some and have better clarifying word sense and cooth, I make it a point to never use a word with which I'm not familiar. I've been guilty of saying or spelling renumerate when it really is remunerate. You'd think since I'm a singer/speaker who depends solely (or is that souly?) on honorariums for a living, I'd surely get that word right!

A dentist told me he was once asked by a patient, "I hope you can save it. I don't want an episiotomy of that tooth." >>Silence<< She then continued by saying, "The last time I had a root canal episiotomy, I had blood in my urine." 

I guess SO. I didn't realize the drills ran quite that deep...

I tried to figure out what in the world she was thinking and what word she was desiring to say. Supposing she may have meant to use the word perineotomy doesn't even work in dental terms, unless you're giving birth to a tooth. But then I thought, "I bet she wanted to say something "periodontal-ish."

That's it! As far-fetched as it sounds, I understood. I was illumined! (Or is that illuminated?) I could see it clearly with my eye tooth! I wish though I could be in the conversation one day, when she realizes she's been using the word episiotomy in the wrong context.

Here are a few words that never seem to be wrong in any context:

Forgiveness
Compassion
Acceptance
Mercy
Forbearance
Kindness
Tenderness

I know this full well. I know this because each one of these words goes beyond spelling or preaching or just talking them out (or even shouting it from your front porch). Each word requires a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual definition of its own action, to be proven. And when you think about it, they dig deeper into our souls more than any drill.

Jesus spilt His blood, sweat, bodily fluid, bile, urine - everything - as a supreme human sacrifice on the cross. It wasn't contextually rational. Many think (their context) that His crucifixion meant a total defeat. But the fact is: It was the greatest single victory over death. That's not Christian-ish - that's truth.

Elucidation. It means to give an explanation that serves to clarify.

Like I said, I love big words.

Luke 12:11-12  The Message 
 11-12"When they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don't worry about defending yourselves—what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes."

4 comments:

Rachel Quigley said...

I really have no big words for you....this, however, tickled me to my toes! Thanks for the laugh!

Sue Duffield said...

I LOVE to tickle your toes, Rachel!!!! :) It really is "life, as we know it!" Love you too! I wanna see your babies! :)

Living on an Alternate Plane of Reality said...

I love this! My friends and my spouse tell me I'm a "word-nerd" I guess logophile just doesn't roll off their tongues in the same way. Either way, this post made me smile. It's nice sometimes to have things explained to us again, or should I say elucidated?

victoria said...

I pray for His words to come out of me instead of mine ALL the time! On a more humorous note, my favorite word (probably of all-time) is brouhaha. I use it any possible chance I get. It's such a great word.