Whatever Takes Us Away

Humanity has an uncommon ability to use language in a way that describes the things around us, what we do, and what we say.  We use letters, numbers, and symbols to communicate meaning and help define our world.  Something has gone very wrong in the past few years that seems to be leading to the demise of human language and understanding.

This morning after I took the kids to school I passed one of the larger churches in our little town.  Usually, the sign out front has interesting little quips, event announcements or special dates on this sign.  Most times I look to see what has been posted; perhaps I’ll attend this or go to that.  This morning however, I was caught off guard by what the sign says.

Some words in the English language sound exactly the same, and unless you use the surrounding context of the words you won’t know what word has been used.  Plane and plain are a good example of this.  Is one talking about walking on a plain in Africa or riding on a plane to get to Africa?  For, fore, and four is another good example.

The sign in front of the church says, “Pray 4 Our Troops” which, if it had been properly laid out with the proper words, might mean something to the effect of, “Our troops are in a violent situation, please pray FOR them.”  But, when we start to render number symbols that have a close relationship with word symbols the language starts to deteriorate.  Does the sentence, “Pray four our troops” have the same meaning as “Pray 4 our troops?”  Maybe it is just me and I’m a stickler for the proper use of the English language, but I think those to phrases have different meanings.

The text messaging, instant messaging, chat lingo that is thrown around today is starting to madden me to no end.  If you have a feeling, thought, or emotion to convey find the correct words and/or phrases that convey those feelings, thoughts and emotions – please don’t butcher the language you speak by taking short cuts that obscure the true meaning of what you are trying to say.  If you don’t know how to spell something, find a dictionary, use the internet.  If you don’t know which word is the proper word, use a dictionary to help you understand the meanings of the word(s) in question. 

If you want the surrounding community to pray for our service members, say what you mean and mean what you say.  If you start using word symbols to represent the actual word you want to use you begin confusing the language you are using, changing the meanings of the words and symbols.  4 does not mean the same things as for or fore.  Praying four our troops does not carry the same meaning as praying for our troops, and likewise, praying fore our troops does not carry the same meaning either. 

I find this particularly infuriating because of where the sign is and who and what is attached to that sign.  If it had been in the front yard of a frat house I might find it slightly amusing, but still incorrect.  However, this sign stands along the most traveled road in the town, in front of one of the largest churches in the town.  As a Christian I am enraged by the fact that other “Christians” cannot use the God given abilities to use language as God had intended.  He did not create us to be unintellectual, idiotic morons that confuse simple words easily.  No, in fact, He created us with superior intellect to that of other animals, separating us from everything else He created.  If we are the “higher” animals we should act as such.

Here’s a quote from someone else that has similar feelings to those of mine.  “Here’s the problem. There is nothing wrong with slang. It is as American as apple pie. But one of the great deceptions is that the words are losing their original meaning. If we change the meaning of words what good is our language? . . . If we lose our common language we lose our culture” (Coach Dave Daubenmire, Words Have Meaning, 2007).

Words do have meaning.  The letters, numbers, and symbols we use each day convey certain things about the world around us.  Unlike the other creatures that roam the earth, we can use language in a way that helps us to create bicycles, cars, houses, cities and nations.  We use language to solve mathematical problems and use it in science.  It teaches us history and tells us the current news events.  But when we toy around with the meanings of the words (as has been handed down to us, written or spoken and documented with definitions) we lose the ability to communicate anything at all.

I correct my children when they use a word improperly or out of context, the same as my family did with me growing up.  I don’t think there is an emphasis on the proper use of language anymore and that may very well lead to the demise of the English language in the near future.

This is what happens when you sit in a tree stand beginning 6:30 am.  Sadly I must report that my friend took a shot at this bruiser and missed, but God felt that one of the two of us put this buck on the ground.  I am thankful I had the opportunity to take a shot, and even more thankful that my arrow hit the mark!

This is the second deer of the season (the other a decent doe back in October) and I still have four more possible tags to fill (all does).  Looking forward to taking Jake out next weekend during the youth gun season, maybe there'll be another monster lurking in the woods for him to shoot. 

As one who served five years in the Marine Corps I am truly thankful I could take this deer on Veterans' Day; a day off work doing something fun with a friend and being well rewarded for a good shot.

To all you who read and are either past, present or soon to be US service members, thanks.  I have my moments where I miss it, but this morning was not one of those times.  Glad to be at home with a bow in my hand.

Well, it's Friday, September 25th, but those who read this probably already know that.  This Friday is special for a couple of reasons, it isn't the date that's important, but what this day indicates is the focus here.  You see, tomorrow marks the opening of the deer bow season for 2009-2010 and today is a day off from work for me.  I don't mind waking up early to hit the woods, but it really sucks when you get off work at 11:00 pm and don't get to sleep until after midnight - that 5:45 am alarm doesn't sit well with me on those nights.  So, today is a day off and I hope (if all goes well) to be in bed well before midnight tonight (sometime between 10:00 and 10:30 seems best). 

Now, with that said there is another problem that has been posed over the past few days - the weather.  Looking ahead to tomorrow looks like I'll be wet while in the tree, but alas, I hope the tree umbrella will help me out there!  If all else fails I have the tent blind set up and ready for action too, another way to keep dry on opening morning.

Lastly, since it is the opening weekend of the bow season my chances of going to church Sunday is highly unlikely.  Don't get me wrong, I find it incredibly important to go each week, but this Sunday I make an exception (and have for the last two years).  Call it "Our Lady of the Tree Stand" or what have you, but that is indeed where I will be; amongst God's beautiful creation and being a mindful steward of the creatures He has given us for sources of food (yes, deer is allowable, even under the Old Testament laws given to Moses).  And, as that steward, I will do my best to not get greedy or overzealous when it comes to the animals I will be seeking this hunting season (though a mix of animals would be nice).  I pray now, as I will in my stand tomorrow morning, that God will be with me and that He will bless the time I spend with Him and His creation this season (and especially tomorrow morning)!

Now may you, my deer reader, keep me in mind as you go to church this Sunday morning, and know that all of God's creation is beautiful, even when it looks like a steak.

For those very few loyal readers I have, forgive me for my inconsistent writings of late.  Summer, what little of it is left, has once again blown by me and blown me over.  I have finished my Associates Degree in religion, the kids are growing and swimming (when the weather cooperates), and things around the Mundy house have been usual - busy, busy, busy.

I haven't been writing here, for no good reason, and while I have intended to write more often, it just hasn't happened.  I could say that will change, like I have in the past, but I now know that I will not respond (even to myself) in kind in that respect.  Get used to the fact that I won't be posting here as often as I once did, but this has become more of a last place for me to put my thoughts out. 

Summer has once again come and gone, and I have once again lived another year to tell the stories.  Oh well, at least I have this beautiful wife to help keep me on track with all aspects of my life.  See you around!

Okay, I haven't been posting anything lately, and frankly, this won't be much of a post, however, I realize that I should at least put something here.

To update a bit.  I ran the Flying Pig half marathon and managed to meet my own time of maintaining a ten minute mile for each of the 13.1 miles.  I have finished the spring semester and managed to meet and/or exceed the criterior for my AA Religion degree and will now be moving on toward the BS Religion this summer.  The family and some friends did the Walk Now for autism walk at Coney Island and had a great time of it.  My flower beds have been mulched and at least partially weeded and I don't plan on doing much else around the yard for a while.

Kids are nearly done with school for the year and I look forward to having fun summer time with them all.

That's all for now, I will hopefully start training for the Air Force half marathon in the coming weeks.  The race isn't until September, so I have some time to work on knocking at least one minute off of each mile, which should get me under two hours for the 13.1 mile jaunt.