Yesterday I quoted a Psalm. It made me wonder when did we start referring to a single psalm as a “Psalm” as opposed to referencing a verse by saying something like “Psalms 23:1?” Maybe we always did and after over seventy years I just opened my eyes. Maybe a biblical scholar will tell me if and when this occurred, or then again it never did. Doesn’t make a hill of beans.
Don’t you just love the term “food insecurity?” It’s such a nicer way to put the condition than “starving, hunger, or famished.” The phrase doesn’t offend or cast blame. I wonder what other phrases will slip into our vernacular. How about “wealth insecurity” instead of “poverty or being poor.” Wealth insecurity makes it sound like a much more temporary condition. Now I’m getting silly.
Our language evolves to meet the times. I listened to my daughter and wife talk about the use of pronouns and they could have been talking Greek as far as I’m concerned. We owe it to ourselves and neighbors to be sensitive to how people want to be addressed. God knows I try. But, I also think we need to be sensitive to those who try, but may get it wrong now and then. Language evolution is a rapidly changing phenomena. What used to be appropriate one day, can become offensive and inappropriate another.
As we all try, let’s be a little less judgmental and a little bit more understanding. The world will be a better place.
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