Tell It Slant

About a week ago, Sunday, while at lunch with Charlissta and her spouse, Matissta sharply scolded Flannista for uttering a sentence that dropped the f-bomb three times. "Flann," Matiss said, "watch your mouth. Show some respect."  Her rebuke may have been building for some time because Flann's mouth of late had veered decidedly toward the profane.

I found myself convicted of my lazy language yesterday after beginning a book called Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers by Eugene Peterson (and I'm only on page 9).  In his introduction, Peterson writes that while the Gospels capture much of what Jesus preached and taught, they mostly capture his conversations.  Therefore, Peterson, believes:

There is no "Holy Ghost" language used for matters of God and salvation and then a separate secular language for buying cabbages and cars. "Give us this day our daily bread" and "pass the potatoes" come out of the same language pool.

Peterson's goal?:

I want to attend to the words we listen to and speak as we go about the ordinary affairs of work and family, friends and neighbors and provide them with an equivalent dignity alongside the language that we commonly associate with the so-called "things of God."

The title of his book is taken from a beautiful Emily Dickinson poem:

Tell all the truth but tell it slant --
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise; 

As Lightning to the Children eased
With Explanation kind,
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind --

I was also convicted by this line in Dickinson's poem: "The Truth must dazzle gradually". Potty mouth aside, I tend to hit folks upside the head with what I believe is truth. Writes Peterson:

There are many occasions when the imperious or blunt approach honors neither our God nor our neighbor. Unlike raw facts, truth, especially, personal truth, requires the the cultivation of unhurried intimacies.

Read those words again: "requires the cultivation of unhurried intimacies". So lovely.

Here's to a New Year of speaking more thoughtfully and kindly, perhaps following the lead of a First Century preacher, teacher -- and friend and neighbor to many -- who never wrote one word, at least not a word that was ever preserved. Jesus only spoke -- gradually, with dazzlement and profound respect.

 

 

Comments

[Flannista]

I've heard that more books have been written about Jesus than any other person in human history, though he never wrote one word himself (that we know about). He had no literary agent. Never had to show up for a book signing. His fame and notoriety spread mostly through the words he spoke, and primarily through the words he spoke "conversationally".

I can't stop thinking about the power of words in simple conversations.

[treesta]

Speaking thoughtfully goes hand-in-hand with listening carefully. I have found myself convicted by the words of the books with which I was gifted this holiday season. Convicted to listen more, to what's said and what's unsaid, to listen to all living things.

I also believe, Flann, that the words Jesus chose were so powerful because he taught through stories. Speaking thoughtfully, listening carefully, telling our own stories. Not a bad way to go about things.

[Flannista]

It was the word "stories" in the subtitle of Peterson's book that hooked me initially, treesta, and thanks for reminding us of the masterful storyteller Jesus was. When you stop and consider the short length of the Gospels and the actual words attributed to Jesus within those Gospels (a little more than 2,000), there's no question that he listened more than he spoke.

A lesson for all of us.

[PEACEsista]

I "see" Jesus in you and treesta when you teach children.

We all have it in us to speak in such a way that others can hear and see a bigger truth in our words. Words have power and sometimes we are careless, wielding them like a gun, or a baseball bat. Words have destroyed more lives than assault weapons, but the casualties are not as obvious and the victims, ironically, tend to suffer in silence.

[Flannista]

Eloquently stated, PEACEsista. Once again.

[Nowayasista]

This seems like an awfully complex way to just say, be polite. What you say matters and is remembered.

[treesta]

Chuckle. Noway, you always cut right to the bone. I love that about you!

[Matissta]

Well, I don't know if I would say it's all about being polite. It's also about expressing yourself well and storytelling, which seems to appear everywhere these days.

I find it interesting that in the world of email, FaceBook, Twitter and any other social media, we seem to crave a good story, a well-told story, more and more. People seem to miss that connection without realizing it. Whether it be read, heard or viewed.

As for Flann, I think it bothers me because she's such a wordsmith. She has a good vocabulary. It seems lazy and inappropriate to me. Also, when people use vulgar or abusive language, the listener (if it's not directed toward them) tends to listen less and doesn't respect the viewpoint. At least that's my tendency.

[Flannista]

"What you say matters and is remembered." Thanks, noway. Being polite and saying what matters can sometimes be quite different.

I can't think of a more withering criticism of my use of profanity than someone calling it what it is: lazy (and inappropriate). When I teach my writing classes, I always ask, "Why use a three-syllable word with a one-syllable word will do?" I also need to ask, "Why use a lazy or inappropriate word when an intelligent or thoughtful word will do?"

[Peter]

I agree with Matissta, and I think when people curse in conversation it is often because they refuse to hunt for a better expression, and often cursing has the effect of making whoever you are talking to cease their listening, while piquing the interest of anyone around who you weren't intending to talk to, who will take nothing away but the curse word and the subsequent expression. It is no way to make yourself look smart or respectful, and is not often a very good way to get your point across.

[Peter]

The word at the bottom of my screen was "stroyed" I've always wondered with words that have prefixes, if something can be destroyed, can it also be stroyed? If something is cooled down for the first time, is it just fridgerated?

[Sista C]

Well, I know I'm a lazy word - user. I just slap words in there any whichaway.

[Flannista]

Thank you for your comments, Peter.

Matissta called me about a half hour ago to apologize if her 10:02 a.m. comment was hurtful. I assured her that it wasn't in the least and thanked her again for holding me accountable to my ability to write and speak intelligently and thoughtfully. You are right, Peter, cursing "is no way to make yourself look smart or respectful, and is not often a very good way to get your point across." Also, if you curse all the time, it kinda loses its "punch".

[Flannista]

Regarding your 11:50 a.m. comment, Peter.

The English language is SOOOOO complex! "The farm was used to produce produce." "He could lead if he would get the lead out".

It's a wonder ANYone can be eloquent using the English language.

[Flannista]

Sista C: you get points for honesty.

Also, a first-round bye for phrases like "rat piss on cotton".

[Peter]

If you do anything surprising in language all the time, it will lose its punch...ask Tom Wolfe.

[Matissta]

This is slightly off topic, but...

Peter, you are a good writer and speaker. I'm curious (and this goes out to Justista too), do you find legal talk/writing as frustrating as those of us who aren't in the law profession? I mean why can't they simplify the language so that the average person can understand a legal document, like a contract? Or is the point to NEED a lawyer?

I'm serious about my questions.

[Flannista]

Peter, I've never figured out if Tom Wolfe wields a sharp pen or a sharp wardrobe.

Matissta's 2:15 questions are spot on, and I hope that Peter and Justista have time to respond to them.

[treesta]

What a thoughtful conversation. In reference to Matiss's 2:15 question, I believe every profession has it's own 'legalese'. In education, we speak in acronyms and use words like brief constructed responses (instead of essay questions) and selected responses (instead of multiple choice questions)and rubrics (which I didn't even bother to explain to Flann when we put it in the grant application last week!).

[Flannista]

I'm still scratching my head over "rubrics". Would it kill ya to use "purpose"?

[Flannista]

I'm so proud of myself that a profanity didn't even come to mind when I read the word, "rubrics" in treesta's 2:39 comment.

[treesta]

Chuckling here. I'm sure the profanity actually came to mind, but I'm proud that it didn't escape your lips!

[Justista]

To the question: some legalese is just showing off but it's like medical language, some terms have a specific meaning and trying to use common language would make the explanation too long. Here's an example: I just wrote in a brief: "The State is estopped from raising this issue on appeal." Now what (I wanted to say "the hell" here but stopped myself) does "estopped" mean. Lawyers know. But if I had to explain it the sentence would read: "The State told the judge that he could rule on this issue so the State invited any error that the judge made and therefore the State cannot ask the appellate court to find that the judge should not have ruled on the motion."

Now on language: Adverbs-avoid them, do the work to find the right word with its own power.

Great tune-up for going back to Vermont with the English majors. Great picture too-the slant.

[treesta]

On a different note, I just read that Donna Page, who was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School until her retirement in 2010, has come out of retirement to lead that school family through this difficult time.

Her healing words to the community she serves:
"I want parents and families enduring the loss of their precious children to know their loved ones are foremost in our hearts and minds as we move forward. We recognize your needs are paramount in our preparations and planning. Your strength and compassion has been, and will continue to be an inspiration to me and countless others as we work to honor the memory of your precious children and our beloved staff."

It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of the family called educators.

[Flannista]

Thanks much, Justista -- I had no idea that legal terms were so fecund or perhaps, just plain weird.

treesta -- your 6:21 pm comment is hardly "on a different note". Donna's words are the words of Jesus. Thank you for posting them here.