Our friends Emily and Travis introduced us to a board game called "
Anomia
." Anomia, by
definition
,
is "the inability to name objects or to recognize the written or spoken names of objects."
The product description explains that "Anomia plays off the fact that our minds are positively brimming with all sorts of random information; things to eat, pop songs, websites, etc. Sure,
under normal circumstances,
it's easy enough to give an example of a frozen food, or a dog breed, but you will find that your brain
works a little differently under pressure!
The directions are simple. Draw a card from the center pile and flip it over. Does the symbol on your card match one on another player's card? If so, you must quickly face-off with the other player by giving an example of the person, place, or thing on their card before they can do the same for yours. If you blurt a correct answer out first, you win their card and drawing continues."
I've never been a fan of the word "normal" and I know that we are not under normal circumstances now. We are "under pressure."
It has been difficult for me to think of certain words lately. I feel like I'm in one big game of "Anomia." During one of our recent Bible studies, I noticed some beautiful plates in the background of a couple's (Davis and Polly) screen via Zoom. I was looking for the words to compliment these plates and said,
"I like the plates... they're a set of.. gracious.. what is that word for a set of plates that are typically nice... CHINA. I like your all's china."
On both good, bad, and all the days in between, I try to be more intentional with my words. With an increase in communication through e-mail and text message, I think carefully about what I say (even though typos happen frequently). Perhaps there is a different way I can say something? Perhaps I should be more specific rather than use ambiguous words or pronouns? Words and their order have always been important, which is even more true nowadays.
On Wednesdays, Charlie leads us through a discussion of one psalm. For the past few weeks, he has invited us to read the psalm from our preferred version of the Bible and he provides "The Message" option for us, as well. "The Message" is a version of the Bible translated by Eugene H. Peterson. He uses modern day, accessible language. While the translation takes some creative liberties, it does provide an alternative translation of the psalm compared to what we may be used to.
I invite you to read the New Revised Standard
Version
(NRSV)
of Psalm 95 today:
1
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
6
O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
O that today you would listen to his voice!
8
Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9
when your ancestors tested me,
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they do not regard my ways.”
11
Therefore in my anger I swore,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
What stands out to you in this version?
What is the overall mood or tone of the psalm? How does it make you feel?
Now I invite you to read "The Message"
version
of Psalm 95:
1-2
Come, let’s shout praises to God,
raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let’s march into his presence singing praises,
lifting the rafters with our hymns!
3-5
And why? Because God is the best,
High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the other hand grasps the high mountains.
He made Ocean—he owns it!
His hands sculpted Earth!
6-7
So come, let us worship: bow before him,
on your knees before God, who made us!
Oh yes, he’s our God,
and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.
7-11
Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks:
“Don’t turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising,
As on the day of the Wilderness Test,
when your ancestors turned and put
me
to the test.
For forty years they watched me at work among them,
as over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked—oh, was I provoked!
‘Can’t they keep their minds on God for five minutes?
Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?’
Exasperated, I exploded,
‘They’ll never get where they’re headed,
never be able to sit down and rest.’”
Does anything new stand out to you?
How does one verse in "The Message" version compare to the New Revised Standard Version?
Is there a version that you prefer?
Do any of the translations make you uncomfortable or do not feel relatable?
Think through new ways to say something this week. Maybe it's a new way to communicate that you love someone. Be intentional with your words. Sit in silence and recognize what the absence of spoken words invites within your
own mind and heart.
Be patient with yourself- even when you can't remember the word for China.
I invite you to pray this prayer** today:
Praying
It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
Amen
.
**
"Thirst" by Mary Oliver
