One of my favorite games is Scrabble. There is a real sense of satisfaction being able to take seven scrambled letters and to rearrange them into a word, and of course the bigger the word the greater the satisfaction. It is a real boost when you can put your word along side another word and simultaneously form four or five other words. Another enjoyable event is putting down a word that is so unusual your opponents think you just made it up and they challenge you to open the dictionary and justify your play. You almost feel like expressing that childhood taunt, “I told you so. I told you so.” (Now you can see how immature I really am.)
One of my latest was “melsh” which means “mellow, soft, tender.” It is interesting how words come and go in a language. “Melsh” really has gone. In order to find it you have to go the huge Oxford English Dictionary.
I am often reminded that God gives us an array of talents, skills and abilities and it is up to us to form meaning for our lives. He could have scripted everything for us but He allows us the joy of making plans and pursuing the character we desire. If we keep Him in our lives He will bless our choice. If we choose to be a teacher He will help us be a good teacher. If we choose to be a carpenter (that was Jesus’ choice) He will help us be a great carpenter. The skills are from Him the creation is ours.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 15, 2003
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453