I've been in a bit of a writing slump lately. I try to paint creativity in my brain and weave words together that will move someone...maybe even me. The words show up. They don't dance with each other. There isn't a unity of thought. It all seems so chaotic. I've been here before. Every songwriter goes through lulls...especially the sober ones. Maybe soon the lyrics, melodies, and imagery will dance together and create a song worth singing. However, I heard a song today that is better than anyone could have ever written. It will never win any type of Grammy. It will never get worldwide radio play. But people fall in love to it all of the time. It brings a smile to a room full of flannel shirt wearing "teen-angsters". It's a melody we've all heard before, but it NEVER gets old.
It's laughter.
I was reminded tonight of how much I love this song. My children were at a birthday party laughing, running, and splashing in a water park with others who were doing the same. I couldn't help myself. I laughed out loud. Their laughter plucked on my heart strings and the harmony of boys laughing with girls made for the best song I've ever heard.
I can't wait to listen to it again.
I wonder if I can buy it on iTunes. Probably not.
I stumbled in, barely putting one foot in front of the other, somehow found my way to the counter, and with every ounce of confidence I could pull from my cloudy brain said, "Could I get a tall latte?"
The problem. I wasn't at Starbucks. So, I stuttered and stammered until I found the correct words to say, eventually walking out with my latte in my hand and embarrassment on my face.
Language is paramount! Our context determines our language, or at least we should be sensitive to our context, so that we use the appropriate language. Part of the problem with not understanding our context when when we communicate is that our message becomes unclear. It is impossible to communicate the message if the hearer doesn't receive the message. If our message is as important as we say it is, then we must communicate it clearly. Better yet, we should know what we are talking about!
I often use words like sanctification, fellowship, church, Christian, but my culture doesn't really understand what these words mean, or they have a flawed understanding of their meaning because of what their context has reflected to them. Furthermore, I have got to understand the implications of these words, instead of just throwing them around like an infielder on opening day.
So...the issue is two-fold:
1. I have to communicate my message clearly to the culture in a language that is appropriate to their maturity and setting because the message is most important.
2. I have to understand the language I communicate and use it as it was intended. There is meaning behind the words used when communicating the message.
Finally, I learned that if we are to add credibility to our writing, then it's important to include a valid source, and philosophers are almost always a valid source. So, I will close with the words of the great Inigo Montoya:
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Keep the message clear, be sensitive of context, and know what your words mean.
Jack Shepherd knows what it's like to be lost.
to have his foundation ripped apart
in the rubble of death
to see the face of a man who lost his breath
to death's blow to the gut
to wander in the trees only to lose track
of where his footprints have been
Jack Shepherd knows what it's like to be found.
to leave behind those
he's called his friends
to walk along winding roads,
stumbling in the potholes of self-doubt
to intoxicate himself with thoughts
of one who is found, yet wants to be lost again
Jack Shepherd knows what it's like to be lost and found.
so do we.