We have all heard the expression that a picture is worth a thousand words. It is also true that a word is worth a thousand pictures. Think the word flower and our brains can produce pictures of roses, glads, mums, daisies or whatever is our favorite. Before there was television we sat around a radio big enough to be a piece of furniture. In the evenings we heard words and our brains filled with magnificent pictures of Fibber McGee opening his closet and we saw tons of stuff cascading out into the room. If someone says, “Hi ho, Silver” our minds see a beautiful white stallion rearing up on his back legs ridden by a man wearing a black mask. (If you are old enough.)
Words are pictures of ideas. If someone says the words that are our names, those who hear will each think of their unique idea of who we are. Our children will think of mom or dad. Our siblings will think of a brother or a sister. Our friends will think of who knows what. If I say the word, “Jesus” each of us instantly creates a picture filled with ideas we have formed regarding who and what Jesus is.
What if when our name is mentioned others would think of Jesus? Now that would be something special. I once had a man tell me how disappointed he was to actually meet me. He had listened to audio tapes of a series of sermons I had preached at a college. He told me he had envisioned someone tall and handsome. Well, sorry about that. As Popeye once said, “I is what I is.” But, maybe, just maybe, after people get to know us they will think of Jesus. That would be grand.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 6, 2016
PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org