Messages of other months can be read by clicking HERE.
Pacemaker (09/10/01)
Indians and Natives (09/10/04)
Jam(b), Lam(b) and Ram (09/10/08)
“Thirsty” (09/10/13)
Musical Instruments (09/10/17)
United States of America (09/10/21)
A Thai Tie (09/10/26)
All Hallows’ Eve (09/10/30)
- Pacemaker
(09/10/01)
According to my dictionary, “a step made in walking” may be called
a “pace.” “The distance spanned by a step” may also be called a “pace,”
but the length of a “pace” depends on the context in which the word is used.
It may equal 30 inches or 36 inches or 58 inches. It may also be used in
reference to either human beings or to horses. As a verb, it may mean “to
measure by counting the number of steps needed to cover a distance.” A “pacemaker,” however, is not a maker of paces. It is a “miniaturized and
surgically implanted electronic device used to regulate, or to aid in the
regulation of, the heartbeat.” Six months ago, because an examination
indicated that I had an irregular heartbeat, a pacemaker was implanted in my chest.
Since that time, I have had no problem related to my heart and at
airports, while an electronic device is checking my luggage, I always receive the
special attention given to those passengers having pacemakers. At a recent
regular examination, I was informed that a new pacemaker was needed. So,
on Thursday, October 1st, I am scheduled to be in the hospital for a few
hours while a new pacemaker is implanted, but there should not be any problem
related to the preparation or communication of these messages. Once again, I
am amazed at the marvelous complexity of the human body and of the
marvelous medical procedures now available to keep the body functioning as expected.
My wife and I, who are both in our early 80’s, feel right at home in this
retirement community where there are many residents our age who are
regularly examined by medical specialists, follow their advice and live a longer,
healthier life. (1260)
[P.S.(=“postscript”) All went well; I'm now
back home with a new pacemaker.]
- Indians and Natives
(09/10/04)
The word “Indian” is a very ambiguous term in English. Originally, “
Indian” denoted a native or inhabitant of the Asian country of India.
When the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, landed on a North American
island in 1492, after sailing for over 2 months from Europe, he thought he had
reached the Orient and called the inhabitants of the island “Indians.”
That island is now the location of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. As a
result of that mistake, India has been called the “East Indies,” the islands
between North and South America became the “West Indies” and the native
people of North, South and Central America have all been called “Indians.”
Nowadays, the term “Native American” is also used and some would compare “Native Americans” with the “Ainu” of Japan, but actually who were the real “natives” of lands that now are called “America” or “Japan” is not certain.
The distant ancestors or “natives” of both America and Japan seem to have
migrated from several geographical regions over many thousands of years.
There are now hundreds of Native American tribes recognized by American
governments and the physical features of the Japanese people reveal their
derivation from a mixture of several ethnic groups, which came from both the north
and the southeast. Whether we use such terms as Indian, Ainu, Celt,
British or Japanese, we are all a mixture of a variety of factors, members of the
same human family, despite our different traditions, cultures and
languages. Morally or racially, none of us are “pure.” (1261)
- Jam(b), Lam(b) and Ram
(09/10/08)
There are times when my wife and I eat out at a restaurant or a coffee
shop that we must choose cornbread or a biscuit to be included. At such a
time, we usually request that some kind of jam along with butter be added.
“Jam” is “a preserve made from whole fruit boiled to a pulp with sugar.”
The jams that are available usually include grape, apple and strawberry,
any of which we enjoy. We also have different kinds of jam at home to
spread on our bread, toast or biscuits. When used as a verb, “jam” may mean “to
fill or pack to excess; cram.” Sometimes we jam clothes and other
articles into our suitcases when going on a trip. In the strange English language,
a “b” may be added to “jam” to designate “the vertical posts or pieces of
a door or window frame,” but the pronunciation does not change. There is a
similar homophonic relationship between “lam” (“to give a thorough beating
to” and “lamb” (“a young sheep”). In Japanese, in which thousands of
different Chinese characters are used, many of which have the same
pronunciation, there are many more homophones. Because of the difficulty many
Japanese speakers of English have in distinguishing the “l” and “r” sounds, there
are times when the distinction between “lamb” and “ram” (“a male sheep”)
is unclear. Some restaurants in the U. S. A., have “Lamb” on their menu,
but I have never seen one that includes “Ram.” In the Old Testament,
both lambs and rams were offered as sacrifices to God for human sins, and in
the New Testament, Jesus was called “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world.” (John 1:29) (1262)
- “Thirsty”
(09/10/13)
Since the classical English translation of the Bible, known as the “King James Version” or the “Authorized Version” was published in 1611, there
have been countless English versions published over the years. Comparing
the different translations of particular words or phrases is an interesting
and very meaningful activity for serious students of a foreign language. At
a recent Sunday morning worship service I attended, the preacher’s text was
the 42nd Psalm and he used the “New International Version,” (NIV) which
was translated in 1973. I was particularly stimulated by the translation of
the first two verses of that Old Testament Psalm: “As the deer pants for
streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.” As I considered this translation, two ideas came to my
mind. First, there is a big difference in meaning between “pants,” when
used as a noun and when used as a verb. In one sense, the “pants” of a
deer and of human beings may not be so different. Second, “thirst” can have
both a physical and a psychological or spiritual meaning. I believe that
both the “thirst” of the human body for water and the thirst of the human
mind or soul for wisdom, knowledge, truth, and for “the living God” are
natural and will continue until satisfied. I also hope that some of these “Timely Words” messages may be useful in gaining a kind of satisfaction for the
readers. (1263)
- Musical Instruments
(09/10/17)
In our retirement community, it is customary to hold commemorative
musical programs, or concerts, periodically in memory of residents who have
died. At such times, outstanding musicians from outside our community are
invited to come and perform. Recently, the daughter of a couple of our
present residents who is recognized as a “seasoned concert artist, harpist and
vocalist” was invited to present such a concert, at which, she played the harp
and sometimes sang along with the harp. On a couple of pieces, she was
accompanied by her son, who played a cello, and on one piece her father
accompanied her on the piano. While enjoying the music of these three different
stringed instruments, I began to think about the different types of musical
instruments in a symphony orchestra, which are usually divided into four
categories: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. And I wondered how many of
them I could name in each category. How about you? How many musical
instruments in a large symphony orchestra can you name? How many strings?
woodwinds? brass? and percussion? I was also reminded of the situation in our
family. Both of our sons played a clarinet in the school band and our
daughter wanted to play a harp. However, my wife and I were concerned about
the problem of transporting such a big, heavy instrument on trips, both
domestic and overseas. So she became a “flutist,” or “flautist,” instead. Our
sons did not continue their clarinet playing, but our daughter continues to
play the flute in Thailand (where she recently joined two others in a
special public performance) and has brought it with her to this country also.
(1264)
- United States of America
(09/10/21)
There are different definitions of the word “state.” It may signify
a political unit that is independent, a sovereign nation. There are a
number of such states in Europe, but they are not “united states.” “State”
may also denote a political unit within a larger government. In North
America, there are many states in the nation called the United States of
America, but we must recognize the different meanings of the word “united” also.
In 1776, following the Declaration of Independence by the Continental
Congress, the 13 British colonies that had been established in North America
chose to replace the words “United Colonies” in that Declaration with the words
“United States.” Over the years, additional states have been admitted
and since the states of Alaska and Hawaii were admitted in 1959, there have
been fifty states in the U. S. A. Looking at a map, it is obvious that the
smallest states are in the northeastern area, which is where the earliest
colonies were established. The states west of the Mississippi River are the
large ones. In 1803, the size of the country was almost doubled by the
purchase from France of that Louisiana Territory for about $15,000,000. That
territory was eventually divided into over 10 states. Another $15,000,000
was paid to Mexico, following a war resulting from the annexation of the
territory of Texas, which became the largest state until the purchase of Alaska
from Russia for $7,200,000 in 1867. Unfortunately, most of the territory
of the present U. S. A. was not purchased but forcibly extorted from the
natives, many of whom were given promises that were never fulfilled. (1265)
- A Thai Tie
(09/10/26)
Since our daughter has been living and working in Thailand for many
years, it is not surprising that a necktie hanging in my closet has a cloth
label on it that reads “Thai Silk 100%” “Made in Thailand.” Sometimes I
enjoy telling people that “This tie is from Thailand.” Although there is a
big difference in meaning between a “tie” (“a long, narrow band of fabric
worn around the neck and tied in a knot or bow”) and a “Thai,” (“a citizen
of Thailand”) the two words are pronounced the same and I decided to find
other words that began with “ti” and were pronounced the same as “tie.”
Before reading my list of such words at the end of this message, how many such
words can you think of? And how many words beginning with “ti” can you
think of that have a different pronunciation? Once again, I am pointing out
irregularities in the spelling and pronunciation of English words, but such
inconsistency and incongruity is not limited to English. Not only are
there irregularities in other languages, but they can also be discerned in the
cultural and historic peculiarities of all traditions. This is one of the
reasons why a fitting standard of some kind to distinguish right and wrong
is advisable for all people--both in a linguistic and moral sense. [Words
beginning with “ti” and pronounced “tie:” “tight,” “tire,” “tile,” “tide,”
“tidy,” “tiger,” and “time.” Words beginning with “ti” and pronounced
differently: “tin,” “tick,” “till,” “timid,” and “tip.”] (1266)
- All Hallows’ Eve
(09/10/30)
The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, known as the “Lord’s
Prayer,” recorded in Matthew 6:9-13, is regularly repeated by Christians in
churches around the world. The traditional English form of that prayer in the
classical King James Version of the Bible begins with these words: “Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Since the word, “hallow,”
is not in common use at the present time, many prayers may not understand
the meaning of that part of their prayer. “Hallow” means “to set apart as
holy, to respect or honor greatly,” and it is in this prayer and in some
traditional observances at this time of year that this word appears. In the
Roman Catholic tradition, November 1st is “All Saints Day,” or “All Hallows’
Day,” when those who have been designated “saints” are respectfully
remembered. The evening before “All Hallows’ Day” was also called “All Hallows’
Eve” and it is from that term that the word “Halloween” was derived.
Many of the traditional customs now related to Halloween, however, are rooted
in non-Christian traditions. November 2nd is also known as “All Souls’ Day,
” when not only those considered “saints,” but all believers who have died
are remembered. In the Roman Catholic tradition, there is a clear
distinction between those special people who have been designated “saints” and
common believers, but in the New Testament letters, all believers are called “saints.” The Protestant church I regularly attended in Mexico City had
previously been a Roman Catholic Church. Along its walls were pedestals for
statues of saints, which had been removed. When a Mexican friend attended that
church with me, he asked, "Where are all the saints?" I replied, "You are
surrounded by them" and explained the New Testament usage of that word.
(1267)