ESSAY XI: An Ironic Prayer
I want you to consider how words are used. I want you to grasp the concept of the reality of right words (or wrong words) used in the right context (or wrong context). I want you to understand how powerful words are towards our emotions, persona, self-reflection and personality. I want you to think for a moment how something may sound a certain way when heard however, develop an antinomy meaning. Let’s say, for example, someone says a joke and you respond, “That’s really funny.” The words you used uplifted the person and allowed him to feel a nature of encouragement. There was actually a connection between what was communicated and how you responded. Let’s now consider a person saying to you, “I’m worried there may be a problem.” and you responded with the exact same three words, “That’s really funny.” Yes, they may be a connection within the communication between the recipient and the sender; however, such a connection is far from encouraging unless it was a mark of sarcasm equaling a natural irony which the two people (you and the other person) can understand.
Now I want you to ponder on these three words, “God have mercy.” I’m about to challenge the entre English speaking culture by casting such an opinion as to say these three words are always an oxymoron. God is full of mercy. Even when we don’t deserve it God graciously has compassion and gives mercy. The Holy Spirit by nature is a Spirit of grace. To say “God have mercy”, is as ironic as saying the “water feels wet”. Nevertheless, we often place these words on our tongue in times of crisis, tragedy, uncertainty, and frustration. We also rejoice with these words moments of overwhelming excitement and gratitude. God has mercy is a common expression as Thank-you, God Bless you and excuse me. Yet, I challenge the meaning these words have upon one’s persona as to say they reflect the doubt of God having mercy in the first place.
I’ll go as far as to say this can reflect the irony the Apostle John saw with the human tongue when he wrote the verse James 3:11: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” When we ask God for mercy take into consideration the grace which He has lavishly already placed upon your life. Then ask yourself, “Do I doubt the fact that He will…
REFLECTION (Mathew 7:7, 8 & Mark 11:24)
I want you to consider how words are used. I want you to grasp the concept of the reality of right words (or wrong words) used in the right context (or wrong context). I want you to understand how powerful words are towards our emotions, persona, self-reflection and personality. I want you to think for a moment how something may sound a certain way when heard however, develop an antinomy meaning. Let’s say, for example, someone says a joke and you respond, “That’s really funny.” The words you used uplifted the person and allowed him to feel a nature of encouragement. There was actually a connection between what was communicated and how you responded. Let’s now consider a person saying to you, “I’m worried there may be a problem.” and you responded with the exact same three words, “That’s really funny.” Yes, they may be a connection within the communication between the recipient and the sender; however, such a connection is far from encouraging unless it was a mark of sarcasm equaling a natural irony which the two people (you and the other person) can understand.
Now I want you to ponder on these three words, “God have mercy.” I’m about to challenge the entre English speaking culture by casting such an opinion as to say these three words are always an oxymoron. God is full of mercy. Even when we don’t deserve it God graciously has compassion and gives mercy. The Holy Spirit by nature is a Spirit of grace. To say “God have mercy”, is as ironic as saying the “water feels wet”. Nevertheless, we often place these words on our tongue in times of crisis, tragedy, uncertainty, and frustration. We also rejoice with these words moments of overwhelming excitement and gratitude. God has mercy is a common expression as Thank-you, God Bless you and excuse me. Yet, I challenge the meaning these words have upon one’s persona as to say they reflect the doubt of God having mercy in the first place.
I’ll go as far as to say this can reflect the irony the Apostle John saw with the human tongue when he wrote the verse James 3:11: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” When we ask God for mercy take into consideration the grace which He has lavishly already placed upon your life. Then ask yourself, “Do I doubt the fact that He will…
REFLECTION (Mathew 7:7, 8 & Mark 11:24)
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