Drooling while I was looking through the glass at all the flavors of Ben & Jerry’s, it occurred to me these two guys will forever be connected by an ampersand. A lot of people are ampersanded together because their initials are carved together in a heart on a tree. Do people still do that? I think the invention of spray paint has replaced the knife. Most of us are ampersanded with someone. Ever since I was a teen my name has been ampersanded with my wife’s name. It is interesting to watch one’s children grow up and see whom they bring home for the ampersanding process. It is one of life’s more fascinating wonders.
I am sure one of my colleagues in the English department at my college will tell me the word “ampersand” is a noun and I can’t use it as a verb. But I just did and that’s how language grows.
The more I think about it, I would like to be ampersanded with lots of things like the words “kind,” “unselfish” and “thoughtful.” I would also like my name to be ampersanded with Jesus. That has a good sound just like Ben & Jerry. Roger & Jesus. How about you? Could I invite you to ampersand your name with Jesus? Try it out. See how it sounds. I think you’ll like it. I know Jesus likes it and if you want you can be ampersanded with Him long after people have forgotten Ben & Jerry.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:21
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 23, 2003.
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