Mint Julep (90/06/01)
According to one theory, this sixth month of the year was named for Juno, the Roman goddess of women. Juno's surname was Moneta and since silver coins were made in her temple in ancient Rome, coins came to be called "money" and the place where they are manufactured, a "mint". A different kind of "mint" denotes certain plants having a sweet aroma from which flavorings and medicines are made. Peppermint and spearmint are used to flavor candies and my wife uses such mints as sage, basil, thyme, marjoram and oregano to flavor the cookies or cakes she enjoys baking. In the southern United States, mint julep is a popular drink. Julep is derived from the Persian words for "rose water", but a mint julep consists of whiskey or brandy combined with water, sugar, crushed ice and mint leaves. A hundred-forty-five years ago today, on June 1st, 1845, William Trapier of South Carolina introduced mint julep to Oxford University. In commemoration of that insignificant event, today is celebrated as Mint Julep Day in that institution. In Matthew 23:23, mint was one of the herbs Jesus said religious leaders offered to God when he accused them of neglecting more important matters, such as justice, mercy and honesty. (3292)
"It's Greek to Me" (90/06/02)
On the Greek side of the border with Bulgaria, a lone Greek soldier wearing a fez was standing at attention. A fez is a cap in the shape of a flat-topped cone with a tassel on the top. Because I had studied Biblical Greek, I was able to pronounce words I saw on signs or posters, but I could not understand their meanings. The English expression, "It's Greek to me", found in Shakespeare, denotes something incomprehensible or unintelligible. While travelling in Greece, this expression had a double meaning for us. In the port city of Salonika, or Thessalonica, there was an American consulate, so we stopped to enquire where to find a laundermat and where to buy ice and milk. We ate our lunch at a small restaurant that had tables out on the sidewalk, but since we couldn't understand the Greek menu, we had to go inside and point to the foods we wanted to order. At the bread shop, loaves of various kinds of bread were piled in bins. The bread was sold by weight, so customers indicated the kind of bread they wanted and how much. The clerk then put the loaf on a scale and cut off part of it or added a piece from another loaf to make up the desired amount. We bought some freshly-baked bread and gave thanks to God who faithfully provided our daily needs. (3293)
A Place of Prayer (90/06/03)
During religious festivals in Japan, one may see countless stalls in and around the shrine grounds where all kinds of articles are sold and many people forget that matsuri is related to matsuru. At a Jewish festival Jesus attended long ago, he saw people buying and selling in the temple precincts and became angry at such crass commercialization of a holy place. Actually, the merchants were selling sacrificial animals to be offered to God and changing the money of foreigners so that they could make offerings in the required local currency. They were making an unjust profit, however, at the expense of the worshippers and Jesus became indignant. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 11, verses 15-18, it is recorded that Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling, saying that the Temple was meant to be a place of prayer for people of all nations but that they had turned it into a hideout for thieves. It takes courage to confront entrenched traditions supported by powerful business, political or religious interests, but Jesus did so even though those in power determined to kill him as a result. Jesus' followers also should actively oppose unjust or unethical practices wherever they are found, regardless of the cost. (3294)
Little by Little (90/06/04)
Some listeners to these "Daily Word" messages may get discouraged because their progress in understanding the messages does not seem to improve rapidly. They should remember the proverb that "Rome was not built in a day". Both patience and perseverance are required to attain a lofty goal. Progress may be slow, but another proverb should give encouragement: "Dust amassed will make a mountain", chiri mo tsumoreba, yama to naru. Although the Scottish word "mickle", which means "great", is not in common use in America, the saying that "many a little makes a mickle" has a similar meaning. "Drop by drop the tub is filled" and little by little your effort will be rewarded even when progress is not immediately evident. So, don't become discouraged. Keep putting forth a sincere effort and certainly your hearing ability will improve. (3295)
"Daily Word" Messages (90/06/05)
After returning from a trip, travellers usually have stories to tell about their experiences. Next week, my wife and I will return to the United States for a visit and I want to tell some miyage banashi relating to this "Daily Word" telephone service. In order to explain to people back home why I take time for the various matters related to this telephone service, I would like to receive letters from listeners that I can share with them regarding its value. Over the past ten years, many people have called a few times and then stopped calling, but you are one of those who have continued to call. How long have you been listening to or reading these 'Daily Word' messages? Why do you continue to do so? Of what benefit have they been to you? If you send me a letter on this subject to reach me by June 13th. I will take it with me to the U.S. and correct it there for publication in the September issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. On June 14th, my wife and I plan to have lunch at the Hotel Kokusai Kanko next to Tokyo Station between 12 noon and 2 p.m. before going to the airport. We would be happy to meet listeners in the Kanto area, so if you can join us there for lunch, please call Michiko Kawamura at 03-713-2987 by June 11th. (3296)
Boycotting McDonald's (90/06/06)
The word "boycott" is derived from the name of a land agent in Ireland who, in the autumn of 1880, raised the rents of poor tenants who had just experienced a crop failure. The enraged tenants joined together in refusing to gather crops or have any dealings with this retired English army officer. Their efforts were successful and the humiliated Boycott eventually fled back to England. Since then, "boycott" has come to mean a refusal to use or buy a product as a means of protest, to force a change in policy. If the cause is just and many concerned people are willing to make a sacrificial effort, boycotts can be effective. Last month, pupils at an elementary school in Iowa were introduced to this democratic process. When the fifth and sixth graders at the school near Des Moines were studying about environmental problems in the world, they learned that the plastic foam material used in McDonald's Hamburger shops was harmful to the environment. About sixty of the pupils began boycotting McDonald's shops until changes are made. The pupils grilled their own hamburgers and invited two McDonald's executives to their class. Whether or not this boycott is effective, it is giving the children an important lesson in participatory democracy. (3297)
Pedestrian (90/06/07)
Do you know the meaning of "pedestrian"? As an adjective, it may mean something quite ordinary and undistinguished. It may thus describe the prose of a mediocre writer. The noun, however, denotes a person traveling on foot, that is a walker. Walking is the most natural means of transportation. It is healthy and inexpensive, does not cause pollution and is very flexible. In downtown business districts of busy cities, it may be faster than going by car or public transportation. The narrow streets between skyscrapers on Manhattan island in New York City become very crowded with pedestrians during certain times of day. It is said that almost 160 pedestrians per minute pass along the west side of Lexington Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets on weekday afternoons at 5:23 p.m. When there are no hindrances, a male New York pedestrian may cruise along the street at better than 100 meters per minute, but these days many obstacles cause him to slacken his pace, including slow-moving tourists, construction scaffolding, streetside vending machines, trash cans and newspaper stands. Life can be described as a "walk" in which we meet many obstacles, but in Ephesians 5:2, we are exhorted to "walk in love." (3298)
Carrot (90/06/08)
A carrot is a nutritious vegetable with a slender, tapering, orange root. From my childhood, I have enjoyed eating raw carrots. When I came to Japan many years ago, it was not customary for Japanese to eat them, so a Japanese friend who saw me eating one laughed at me and said I reminded him of a rabbit. Although I am sure there is no relationship between my fondness for carrots and the color of my children's hair, both of my sons were called "carrottop" when they were young because of their reddish hair. According to a recent news article, a branch of a savings and loan institution operated by an agricultural cooperative in Mie Prefecture has been given the name "Carrot", which is the area's leading agricultural product. The head of the cooperative noted the success of the Tomato Bank in Okayama Prefecture and hopes that this name will also attract new depositors. Actually, "carrot" is sometimes used in English to denote an attractive enticement from the old custom of urging a donkey on by holding a carrot in front of it. A "carrot-and-stick" approach combines a promised reward with a threat or punishment. If the name of this institution proves attractive to the public, we will probably see a proliferation of other fruit or vegetable names for businesses. (3299)
In Athens (90/06/09)
After leaving the Greek city of Salonica, we drove on to Athens. There we visited many ancient historic sites, including the Acropolis, a hill upon which we walked through the remains of buildings built thousands of years ago. We also stopped at the nearby Areopagus, a smaller hill on which the Apostle Paul delivered his famous sermon about "The Unknown God", recorded in the 17th chapter of the New Testament book, The Acts of the Apostles. And since we were in Athens on a Sunday, we attended the interdenominational worship service in English on Sunday morning at St. Andrew's Church. One of the surprises of our trip occurred while we were sitting at a streetside restaurant in Athens, eating our noonday meal. One of our children pointed to a family walking down the street and said the children looked familiar. Our other children agreed that they had seen them at Lake Nojiri in Nagano Prefecture where many missionary families have summer cabins and where our family also went sometimes during the summer. Then my wife and I recognized the parents as missionaries from Kyoto. We called to them and talked for a while. They also were on their way back to the United States. It was a pleasant surprise to unexpectedly meet friends in a foreign land. The Russian novelist, Boris Pasternack has written, "Surprise is the greatest gift that life can grant us." (3300)
God is Light (90/06/10)
Because it is impossible to describe God, who is spirit, Biblical writers used various symbolic terms to indicate the character of God. In the First Letter of John, chapter 1, we find the declaration that "God is light". What does this statement teach us about God? It implies that God is holy and pure, completely separated from the spiritual darkness that is caused by sin. Just as the light of the sun has a purifying influence when it shines into the dark and dank corners of the world, God's spirit cleanses our hearts of evil thoughts. "God is Light" also implies that God brightens our lives with the joy and hope we feel at the beginning of a new day or as we come out of a darkened place into the sunlight. Even as a little light will help us find our way through the darkness, God gives us guidance through the dark nights of our lives, those times of sadness, suffering or disappointment. Light also implies revelation and truth. The Bible teaches that God has revealed himself and his truth to the world in the person of Jesus Christ, who confidently declared, "I am the light of the world" [John 9:5]. Following the declaration that "God is light" is the exhortation that we should live in the light. Our daily words and actions will make clear whether or not we are walking in the light or still wandering in darkness. (3301)
Morai Mono ni Kujō (90/06/11)
One of the oldest proverbs in Western tradition was quoted in Latin by St. Jerome in 420 A.D. It is the interesting advice: "Never look a gift horse in the mouth". Do you understand its meaning? When buying a horse, the buyer usually examines the horse's teeth which are a good guide to its age and general physical condition. If a person is offered a horse as a gift, however, the recipient should not examine it too closely to estimate its value or usefulness. This would be an insult to the giver, indicating doubts about the giver's generosity. This proverb teaches us not to complain or be critical about any gift we receive, morai mono ni kujō, even if it be a padded garment in the summer, morau mono wa natsu mo kosode. In the New Testament Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 20, Christians are exhorted to "always give thanks for everything". (3302)
Bazaar (90/06/12)
In the Middle East, markets are very busy places. A large open area or narrow streets are lined with small shops selling a countless variety of items from fresh produce to handicrafts to manufactured goods. Such a marketplace is called a bazar in Persian. The English word, "bazaar", may denote a shop or part of a store where miscellaneous articles are sold or, more particularly, a fair or sale where articles are sold to raise money for a charitable purpose. Schools, churches and other organizations hold bazaars at times to acquire funds for special projects. The first such bazaar in Japan was opened in the Rokumeikan in Tokyo 106 years ago today, on June 12, 1884 and lasted for three days. Sponsored by an organization of so-called haikara kifujin, three thousand handicraft items were on sale. Over 12,000 people visited the bazaar and sales amounted to over ¥8000, so it was considered a great success. If people simply made monetary contributions, funds could be raised much quicker and more efficiently, but the fact that they prefer to buy something and let the profit be used for the project seems to imply that their main interest is in getting something at a bargain for themselves rather than truly making a contribution to a worthy cause. (3303)
Ambition (90/06/13)
In Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, are these famous lines of Brutus, Caesar's assassin: "As Caesar loved me, I weep for him ... as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him ...." Is it wrong to be ambitious? The Latin root of this word means to "go around", as candidates for political office went around from house to house seeking votes. The English word denotes eagerness to achieve a goal, such as fame, power or wealth. A recent survey of over a thousand Japanese students at 14 high schools and over a thousand American students from 11 high schools indicated that Japanese students have less ambitious plans than their American counterparts. About half of the Japanese students questioned replied that they envisioned working at small or medium-size companies by the time they are 30, while half of the Americans had hopes of being professionals, such as lawyers, doctors or university professors. Asked if they wanted to experience some sort of adventure before reaching 30, two-thirds of the Americans answered yes, but only a third of the Japanese gave that reply. In terms of general interest, Japanese students said they are most enthusiastic about sports, while the Americans said they were interested in scholarly works and the latest technology. Ambition is not wrong, if our goal is a worthy one and we take honorable means to achieve it. (3304)
Mushrooms (90/06/14)
The Chinese character consisting of grass over an ear denotes a mushroom, or kinoko, in Japanese. Mushrooms are a kind of fungus that have an umbrella-shaped cap on the top of a stalk. Some mushrooms grow on trees and others grow on the ground. The kind of mushroom used in Japanese cooking, called shiitake, is said by some researchers to lower cholesterol levels if eaten regularly. When used as a verb, "mushroom" means to multiply, grow, or expand rapidly and a businessman from the Nagoya area is hoping that sales of shiitake will mushroom in Europe. Masayoshi Miwa went to Europe over a decade ago after graduating from college in the United States. His aim was to gain practical experience in gemology, which is the study of gems, for he planned to become a jeweler. While living there, however, he decided to cultivate Japanese mushrooms and market them. He chose Luxembourg as the ideal location for cultivating mushrooms because of its fairly mild climate throughout the year. He does not grow his mushrooms on trees or logs but in enriched sawdust in a greenhouse. Although now, mushrooms are mainly used in restaurant cooking, Mr. Miwa hopes that they will become a popular ingredient in home cooking as well. (3305)
Celluroid (90/06/15)
I'm sure you are acquainted with the synthetic substance known as celluloid, spelled c-e-l-l-u-l-o-i-d. This plastic material is widely used as a substitute for more expensive substances such as ivory, horn or hard rubber. It is used to make combs, brush or knife handles, soap dishes, billiard balls, ornaments, toys, eye shades, transparent rulers, buttons and many other useful things. Using a chemical process, a celluloid paste is produced that is rolled into sheets and then molded into any form and often colored. A hundred-twenty-one years ago today, on June 15, 1869, celluloid was patented by an American inventor named John Wesley Hyatt. At that time, celluloid was a trademark, but it has now become a generic term so it is no longer spelled with a capital C. Because it is also used for photographic film, it is sometimes used to denote motion-picture film or the motion pictures themselves. Celluloid is one of many modern artificial substances that have made life more convenient, but that does not mean that our lives are happier for happiness does not depend upon material goods but upon our faith or our spiritual outlook. (3306)
Siesta (90/06/16)
Driving through Greece in our camping car, we stopped to see the ruins of the ancient temple at Delphi and visited the cities of Athens, Corinth, Thessalonica, Philippi and Neapolis, which are mentioned in the New Testament. One of the disconcerting aspects of our trip there was the Greek custom of stores and offices closing for a siesta during the early afternoon of the hot summer days. At times, when we wanted to use a laundermat, do some shopping or attend to official business, we could not do so because both shops and offices were closed. This word "siesta" is derived from the Spanish word for "six". In the old days, 12 o'clock noon was the sixth hour (from sunrise) and siesta came to mean a rest taken at that time. In one port city, we noticed young men in U. S. Navy uniforms along the street. Stopping to chat with a group of them, I found out that a U. S. Navy ship was then in port and that they were walking around the city. One of the group was from Chicago, which is close to my hometown. When I explained that I was a missionary from Japan, he exclaimed, "By God!" As a Christian, I do not approve of people using such words as "God" or "Jesus Christ" in meaningless or derogatory exclamations, but on this occasion, I responded, "That's right. It was 'by God' that I became a missionary to Japan." (3307)
Father's Day (90/06/17)
For the past 80 years, this third Sunday of June has been celebrated in certain places as Father's Day and commercial interests are promoting its observance in this country also. "Father" is the characteristic term used for God by Christians. In this case, however, the word does not imply that God is of the male gender. It is meant to combine in one expression such personal qualities as authority and severity, compassion and love. Ideally, a father protects and provides for his family and seeks to ensure their happiness and God is pictured as the ideal father. In the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke is a famous story of Jesus commonly called the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The main point of this parable is related to the character of the father, who is willing to let his younger son take his share of his inheritance and go his own way. The father did not coerce either of his sons but respected their freedom of choice. The foolish, selfish and sinful actions of the younger son resulted in his humiliation and disgrace, but when he repented and returned to his father, he was graciously welcomed home. This Parable of the Loving Father teaches that God will forgive a wayward child who sincerely repents and turns back to him. It is an encouraging truth to remember on this Father's Day. (3308)
Contentment (90/06/18)
In English, the lower limb of a human being is called a leg on the end of which is a foot, but in Japanese both "leg" and "foot" are included in the word ashi. For some reason, this same Chinese character is used to denote contentment or satisfaction. This character is found at the beginning of a well-known saying of the Chinese philosopher, Lao-tse: taru o shiru mono wa tomu. In English, sayings with a similar meaning include the following: "Contentment is great riches", "The greatest wealth is contentment with a little" and "He is not rich that possesses much, but he that is content with what he has". In his Letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 11, the Apostle Paul wrote, "I have learnt to be satisfied with what I have". All of these sayings teach that true satisfaction does not depend on external factors but on an inner state of mind. (3309)
Carlsbad (90/06/19)
The Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the southeastern part of the southwestern state of New Mexico in the United States. The immense limestone caves over three-hundred meters underground, which were first discovered in 1901, are still only partially explored. The largest cave is over 1200 meters long and 200 meters wide. Over 11 kilometers of trails through these caves are now electrically lighted for the benefit of the thousands of tourists who come to visit everyday throughout the year. My wife and I are now visiting Carlsbad, New Mexico, but it was not the caverns that attracted us here. Nor was it the huge underground deposits of rock salt a few kilometers away. This is the site of a pilot project of the U. S. Department of Energy where man-made caves in the salt are being created in the hope that they will provide a safe place to dispose of radioactive waste material. Our elder son is an engineer working on this project and that is the reason we are here. We are enjoying our visit with him and his wife and our newest, 8-month-old, granddaughter. On Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day and yesterday was our son's birthday. Tomorrow we plan to depart for the Chicago area where our church headquarters is located and where we will meet other relatives and friends. (3310)
Miso Tubs (90/06/20)
A unique seasoning ingredient used in Japanese cooking is a fermented soybean paste called miso. Boiled soybeans are mashed and preserved in a large tub with a kind of yeast while the beanpaste ferments. In recent years, the use of stainless steel tubs has resulted in a loss of traditional scent and flavor. Traditional miso tubs are made of Japanese cedar, but the tub-making technique is dying out. One of the remaining cedar tub makers, 61-year-old Daisuke Hirata of Matsuno Town in Ehime Prefecture, recently received an order for 200 cedar tubs from Japan's largest miso producer. Mr. Hirata persuaded five local carpenters to be his apprentices to help him construct the tubs and to continue the traditional craft. Fifty-two cedar boards, 180 centimeters long, 10.5 centimeters wide and 4.3 centimeters thick, are required for a single tub. The boards are shaped to give them a slight curve, connected together with handmade bamboo nails and tightly bound with lengths of split bamboo. It takes two weeks to build one tub, which costs about ¥200,000 and may last for 100 years. Although these traditional tubs are made in Japan, their contents come from beans grown overseas. (3311)
Twenty-One (90/06/21)
Today is the 21st day of this month. When I was a youth in the United States, 21 was the age a person officially became an adult, gained the right to vote and was able to marry without parental consent. (Incidentally, that was the age I got married and, according to the date inscribed on the inside of my wedding ring, that happy event occurred 41 years ago tomorrow.) Twenty-one is also the name of a card game in which the object is to accumulate cards with a total count nearer to 21, but not exceeding it, than that of the dealer. And a twenty-one gun salute is the highest gun salute in both the United Kingdom and the United States. The firing of guns to honor a respected person dates back to the early days of the British Navy. At that time cannons could not be loaded quickly so the act of firing one in a salute indicated that the saluter had disarmed himself in deference to the person being saluted. The larger the number of guns fired, the greater the degree of disarmament. Since 21 guns was the number found on one side of the largest warships, firing all of them became the highest mark of respect. Smaller numbers of guns are fired in salutes to people of lesser importance, but twenty-one gun salutes are reserved for heads of states even today. (3312)
Summer Solstice (90/06/22)
This 22nd day of June is called geshi in Japanese. Although the Chinese characters mean "summer arrival", the traditional date for the beginning of summer, called rikka, was a month-and-a-half ago. In English, we call this day the summer solstice. "Solstice" comes from Latin words for "sun" and "stand" for at the time of the summer and winter solstice, the sun seems to stand still for several days during which the times of sunrise and sunset are almost the same. Today is the longest day in the year. In Tokyo, the period of daylight is 4 hours and 50 minutes longer than at the winter solstice. In Scandinavian countries where the winter nights are so long, this season is a time of festive celebrations. Houses and farms, cars and ships, trains, buses and public buildings are all decorated with flowers or twigs. In the evening, people dress in costumes and dance around maypoles. Since the sun sets for only a few minutes before morning, some celebrations last all night. Today is a good time to give thanks for light and warmth from the sun and for the light of truth and the warmth of love of the sun's Creator. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus teaches of God's love for all people with these words: "he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike." (3313)
Mosques (90/06/23)
After leaving Greece, we drove into Turkey and spent our first night in that country along the seacoast of the small Sea of Marmara, lying between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. The predominant religion of Turkey is Islam, so just as we visited churches in Greece, in Turkey we visited mosques. The floors of mosques were covered with thick carpets and worshippers removed their shoes before entering. One day, we quietly stood at the back of a mosque and observed the ritual followed by the men who came in for their noontime prayer. After placing their shoes in the rack, the men first stood and held their hands next to their ears with palms facing the front. Next, they knelt down and bowed, touching the carpet twice with their foreheads, then stood up again and listened to the chanting of the leader. In Japan, there are ablution pavilions on the grounds of Shinto shrines where people rinse out their mouths and pour water over the tips of their fingers as a kind of ceremonial purification before worshipping. In the courtyard of Turkish mosques, however, there are water spigots with small stools in front of them for the men to wash their feet before entering. Symbolic washing of fingers, mouths and feet may be meaningful, but true worship must be performed by people with clean hearts. (3314)
Vine and Branches (90/06/24)
Grapes are a small, round, smooth-skinned fruit which grow on a vine. The garden, or orchard, in which grapes are grown is called a vineyard and the fermented juice of grapes is called wine. A single grapevine has many branches on which grapes grow in clusters. Needless to say, if the branch is not connected to the main vine, it cannot bear fruit of itself and is, therefore, useless. In the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus used the figure of a grapevine and its branches to symbolize the spiritual relationship between himself and his disciples. He said, "I am the vine, and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me." Jesus taught his disciples that they were to bear good fruit, which are the attitudes and actions that result from a healthy faith. Such fruit cannot be borne however, unless the branch receives life-giving energy from the vine. In order for plants or people to produce healthy fruit, they must be related to the source of life. Disciples are unable to bear fruit by themselves; they must be related to their Master through faith. Jesus taught that branches that do not bear fruit are broken off and thrown away, but fruit-bearing branches are pruned that they may bear more fruit. Today, let us take time to consider what kind of fruit we are bearing in our lives.(3315)
Practice Makes Perfect (90/06/25)
To gain skill in any art, profession or sport requires dedicated practice. Doing the same thing over and over again may be boring but, as we say in English, "Practice makes perfect". This expression is often used as the equivalent of the Japanese saying narau yori nareyo, but actually the meaning is a little different. Whereas the English proverb emphasizes repetition in order to attain excellence, the Japanese expression stresses familiarity or actual experience over theoretical study. When learning a foreign language, one may practice pronunciation, but becoming familiar with the language through personal experience is even more important. The best way to do this is to spend time among native speakers but the hearing practice gained through listening to these daily messages will also be helpful. (3316)
Naval/Navel (90/06/26)
Not only Japanese students of English have trouble spelling English words. Native speakers face the same problem because of the many spelling peculiarities. The U. S. Naval Academy is a school that prepares students for careers as officers in the U.S.Navy. Last month 990 graduates of the academy received their diplomas, each of which carried the seal of the Naval Academy. Due to a printer's error, however, the word "Naval" was misspelled, resulting in a homonym with an entirely different meaning. The adjective, spelled n-a-v-a-l, pertains to a navy, while the noun, spelled n-a-v-e-l, denotes the mark on the human abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached until birth. The more informal word for this mark is "bellybutton". There is also a certain kind of orange having a characteristic formation resembling a navel which is called a "navel orange", or simply "navel" for short. Since the U. S. Naval Academy has nothing to do with either bellybuttons or oranges, it was embarrassed to find the misspelled word on the diplomas and the printer has agreed to reprint the diplomas and distribute them to the graduates at no cost to the government. We must take care, for a minor oversight may have major repercussions. (3317)
Strawberries (90/06/27)
For some reason, the Chinese character for ichigo consists of the symbol for grass above that for mother. And for some reason, the English word for this fruit is a combination of the words "straw" and "berry". But just as there is no apple in a pineapple and no grape in a grapefruit, there is no straw in a strawberry. Strawberries grew wild for centuries before they were cultivated for human consumption in the 14th century. There are various theories regarding why this fruit was given this name. One theory holds that it is because the long runners of the plant resemble straw. Another points to the practice of stringing the berries on straw for display and sale at marketplaces. A third maintains the name is derived from the custom of covering strawberry beds with straw to prevent the earth from soiling the berries. But the most widely accepted theory is that "strawberry" is a corrupted form of the original name, "strayberry". This name is said to reflect a characteristic of the runners to stray haphazardly. It is also characteristic of sheep and human beings to stray. In the 15th chapter of Luke, Jesus told the story of a shepherd who sought and found a sheep that had gone astray. Likewise, Jesus came to bring back people who have strayed from the fold. (3318)
irst World War (90/06/28)
In the early years of this 20th century, tensions were growing between various European countries due to conflicting national interests and ambitions. Huge standing armies were prepared to defend or extend their borders. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sofia, were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in the city of Sarajevo, now located in Yugoslavia. This event proved to be the spark that ignited the blazing fire of the First World War. As one country declared war on another, alliances were called into play until 28 nations on 5 continents had become involved in the conflagration which eventually took the lives of 10 million people. Although the war came to an end in November of 1917, it was on June 28, 1919, that a peace treaty was signed in the French city of Versailles by most of the warring nations. According to this treaty, Germany accepted full responsibility for the war, gave up some of its territory, agreed to limit its armed forces and to pay for the civilian damage caused by the war. Today is a good day to give thanks for the blessings of peace, to redouble our efforts to maintain peace and to remember that true peace is an inner quality that comes from a healthy faith. (3319)
"It's Greek to Me" (90/06/02)
A Place of Prayer (90/06/03)
Little by Little (90/06/04)
"Daily Word" Messages (90/06/05)
Boycotting McDonald's (90/06/06)
Pedestrian (90/06/07)
Carrot (90/06/08)
In Athens (90/06/09)
God is Light (90/06/10)
Morai Mono ni Kujō (90/06/11)
Bazaar (90/06/12)
Ambition (90/06/13)
Mushrooms (90/06/14)
Celluroid (90/06/15)
Siesta (90/06/16)
Father's Day (90/06/17)
Contentment (90/06/18)
Carlsbad (90/06/19)
Miso Tubs (90/06/20)
Twenty-One (90/06/21)
Summer Solstice (90/06/22)
Mosques (90/06/23)
Vine and Branches (90/06/24)
Practice Makes Perfect (90/06/25)
Naval/Navel (90/06/26)
Strawberries (90/06/27)
irst World War (90/06/28)
Panhandling (90/06/29)
The Bosporus (90/06/30)
Mint Julep (90/06/01)