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Quaker Life
December 2002
We Have a Saying
By Jim Ellis
For Christmas I received a real help for a two-dog night like we've been having this winter. After two minutes in the microwave, my "Bed Buddy" can be put at the foot of the bed where the heater blanket does not work too well. So I can forget about keeping two dogs to warm my bed. Our weatherman often talks about the weather in our neck of the woods. Where did that come from? He won't come back until the cows come home. Now, that I understand. When you are in a hurry to get the milking done, where are the cows? Sometimes they don't come home. You have to go get them. What about the whole shebang or, since Hector was a pup. How long is a coon's age? Another one that has me stumped is by golly, or is it by George? George I know. What can you tell me about Golly? I understand not worth a plugged nickel. How much is an unplugged nickel worth these days? As fine as frog's hair, how fine is that? When trying to bring contrary cows into line with a slap of his hand, my father used to say, "how do you like them apples?" When dad was thus agitated even though it tickled our funny bones, my brothers and I knew it was no time to Grin like a Chessy cat. Fiddle sticks was a mild form of swearing. I haven't the foggiest notion how it got started. Oh shucks, was for some an unacceptable expletive and a satisfactory substitute for the "D" word.
What strange sayings trip off your tongue? Did they come from your parents? Have they roots in some family happening? I feel we have a deeper sense of being rooted when we can say, "We have a saying in our family..." Aren't you glad you grew up learning family language? Try explaining these sayings to people from other countries trying to learn our language!
Quakers have their collection of quaint sayings like—Sense of the Meeting, Affirm, Birthright Friend, Centering, First Day, Facing Bench, Inner Light, Meetinghouse, After the Manner of Friends, Filled with the Spirit, Testimonies and The Christ Within—to name a few.
The expression "Not worth a Continental" carries a lesson from our history. There was a time when money issued by the Continental Congress had very little value. The same is true of "A Chinaman's chance" since so many Chinese workers lost their lives building the United States transcontinental railroad. When we know the story behind an expression, if itŐs worth the sharing it contributes to friendship and understanding.
At a time when nations go to war against other nations both claiming divine directives for their aggression, it is imperative we gain an understanding of the thinking that drives such madness. We will never bridge the chasm of separation until we gain an understanding of the language of faith of those in opposition. When we understand another's motivating faith, we stand a much better chance of avoiding a fatal conflict. Words are tools to be used carefully in communication. If we use words outside another's circle of understanding, we erect barriers. These words need not be barriers. They can be bridges of communication if built upon the foundation of understanding. If they express the essence of our Faith better than any other words we know, they should be used. How can we claim them unless we understand their meaning? Doctors and other professionals have a working knowledge of medical terms because they have done their homework. We will be more effective in our witness if we do likewise. With a better understanding of the language of our Faith we are able to clear up muddy waters by saying, "By this I mean..."
Unless we claim the words of our Faith so rich in history as well as relevant for today, we run the risk of being museum caretakers of words that do little more than remind us of what used to be. The goal of communicating our Faith is building two-way bridges of understanding. Consider the admonition of the Apostle Paul:
"There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound; if then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves; since you are eager for special gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church...in the church, I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, also than ten thousand words in a tongue." I Corinthians 14:10-13,19
Taken from Jim Ellis' new book, An Old Dog Blessed with New Tricks, 2002.
Copyright (c) 2002 Friends United Meeting
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