Linda Brooks Davis | Words | Let’s Chat

Welcome, everyone. And welcome, September!

Ever struggled to remember a word? I’ve closed my eyes, shook my head, and said, “What’s that word? Don’t tell me. Uh …” I’ve fumbled around and insisted it’s just on the tip of my tongue. And finally, given up. “Forget it. I’ll think of it in a minute.” (Regrettably, this happens more often as the years whiz by.) Even worse are the words I DO remember and spout at all the wrong times. How about you?

Back when I was a school girl learning to type, a bottle of Wite Out sat beside my Smith-Corona, and I replaced it often. Couldn’t seem to type a full page without a typo. Oh! Those pesky words. (Today the editor’s Wite Out is Track Changes in Word.)  

Many times I’ve spoken words that embarrassed and shamed me. Foolish words. Untrue words. Misused words. Worst of all, I’ve shouted angry words. Hurtful. Wounding. Shameful words I regret. If only I could “wite” them out.

Speaking of recalling words …

The funniest such incident I’ve witnessed was shortly after my husband Al suffered a mild stroke and would mix up words for a brief time. One instance was hilarious and is a favorite family anecdote:

Al, to our grandson Davis:
“You see, in the Old Testament there were two groups of people—the Jews, God’s chosen people, and the Genitals.”

I thought I’d split a side! Even still, I can’t help myself. Each time I tell this, the family relives the hilarity. And Al just grins. (He gave me permission to tell this, by the way.) If you missed his mistake in the quotation above, look again.

As a writer, I roam around fields of words, searching for just the right one at the right time. Often, they’re as elusive as falling leaves.

But I keep trying. Which is why the words below, most of which I’ve never heard, are fascinating. Try your hand at matching them. Choose from the list of descriptors that follow the first list. (Answers are at the end of this blog. But don’t peek. I knew 3 and guessed 3 correctly. Grade: F):

Do you recognize these weird words?

1. glabella 
2. petrichor 
3. wamble
4. vagitus 
5. tines
6. phosphenes 
7. box tent 
8. over morrow 
9. minimus
10. agraffe 
11. aglet 
12. vocables 
13. interrobang 
14. columella nasi
15. armscye 
16. dysania
17. griffonage
18. tittle 
19. crapulence
20. Bannock device

Vocabulary like this can trip us up. Confuse us. Lead us astray. Even discourage us. We human beings are good at making messes like misspellings, broken relationships, and weird words.

God, on the other hand …

“Every word of God is flawless …”
Proverbs 30:5 NIV

Wow. Every. Single. Word. Without flaw. Perfect. That’s beyond imagining, isn’t it? It’s impossible to grasp. Mind bending, especially in light of my wicked thoughts and poor choices of words. Thank God He’s flawless. Not an iota of imperfection. My perfect plumb line. I’d be lost without the eternal Point of Reference.

Perfect Words for Life

The words I type onto a page are flawed. That’s where the editor comes in. So are the words I speak. Matter of fact, my whole life is one big typo. How about you? Thankfully, Jesus Christ wites out every imperfection. He took care of Track Changes long ago.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3: 16-17 NIV

So long for another week, friends. Let’s revel in the joy of flawlessness through Jesus Christ. 

~ ~ ~

Dear Lord, thank you for providing the perfect plumb line, Jesus Christ. We’re forever grateful for your grace that covers every flaw. And for your perfect Word that equips us for every good work.
~ For Jesus’ sake

P.S. And the answer is …

Here are the correct answers. Pat yourself on the back if you got even one. (Who in the world uses them, anyway? And to think God knows every word devised by man.)

1. glabella space between eyebrows	5. tines the prongs of a fork	9. minimus little toe or finger	13. interrobang combination question & exclamation marks (?!)	17. griffonage  illegible handwriting
2. petrichor the smell after it rains	6. phosphenes sheen of light when you close your eyes & press hands on them	10. agraffe the wired cage that holds the cork on a bottle of champagne	14. columella nasi the space between  your nostrils	18. tittle the dot over an “i” or a “j”
3. wamble when your stomach rumbles	7. box tent plastic thing in middle of pizza box	11. aglet plastic or metallic coating at end of shoelaces	15. armscye the armhole in clothes; where the sleeves are sewn	19. crapulence sick feeling after eating or drinking too much
4. vagitus cry of newborn baby	8. overmorrow the day after tomorrow	12. vocables the meaningless “na na na” and “la la la” in lyrics of song	16. dysania difficulty getting out of  bed in the morning	20. Bannock device metal gadget to measure your feet at the shoe store