Why, why this chronic pain, this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight? . . .Use words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining. Then, but only then, you'll speak for me. (Jeremiah 15:17-189, MSG)
This passage from Jeremiah hits me close, both as a nursing home resident and as a writer.
Lately the pain hasn't been as bad, in spite on the arrival of cooler, damper fall weather. But with Jeremiah, I want relief from the pain. I can imagine a pain so bad that I would rather die than continue to live with it. I pray that I would never such a choice that would dishonor the "me" God made and God Himself. But I can imagine it.
In essence, God tells Jeremiah to shut up. Don't whine. He even calls it "cheap" whining. While someone with chronic pain may not whine, I would never call those people who do whine "cheap."
The point God is making is that Jeremiah's not investing his words wisely. He is spending them on complaints, which give nothing in return.
Instead, God encourages Jeremiah to use his words "truly and well."
Good words to hear at a point when I am in the editing phase of a book project--even if they are the dreaded adverbs, forbidden in good writing. Finding just the right word. To speak truth in character, location, occupation, relationships--writing demands my best use of language.
To speak for God, as all Christian writers claim to do, let's concentrate on true, good writing instead of whining.
Darlene It is simple to whine and complain It is so much better to deal with problems in a better way, with words that dont irritate With love even when we dont feel like it Really neat Nibble God bless you
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