Much of what we say actually means something else.\u00a0 Hear me out on this, friends.<\/p>\n
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We utilize multiple words and phrases that are either inaccurate or utterly fallacious.\u00a0 It\u2019s seemingly most often unintentional; however, today I\u2019m wondering about the colloquial error of our ways.\u00a0 I speak not about the grammatical misuse of \u201clie\u201d vs.\u00a0\u201clay\u201d or \u201cwho,\u201d \u201cwhich,\u201d and \u201cthat.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019m thinking more about the phrasing that has subtly sneaked into our dialogue that simply is untrue.\u00a0 For example…<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt is what is is.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Egad.\u00a0 Perhaps one of my pet peeves.\u00a0 \u201cIt is what it is.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What exactly does that mean?\u00a0 Does it all go back to Pres. Clinton\u2019s legal questioning surrounding the definition of \u201cis\u201d?\u00a0 Surely not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We hear that phrasing frequently…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From business mogul, Ted Turner:\u00a0 \u201cI regret that I wasn’t more successful with my marriages, but it is what it is.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or from my fave NFL QB, Drew Brees:\u00a0 \u201cThe Madden Curse has really taken on a life of its own.\u00a0 People just love talking about it, and it is what it is, but I look at it as a challenge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are you kidding?\u00a0 It is what it \u201cis\u201d?!\u00a0 No.\u00a0 \u201cIt is what it is\u201d is what we say when we don\u2019t know what to say anymore.\u00a0 It\u2019s the clear ender of conversation, meaning there\u2019s little else to say or I really don\u2019t want to speak of it anymore (see Turner, Ted).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We also hear…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got the patience of Job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes, as the parent of a special needs child, I receive that frequent retort.\u00a0 Newsflash, friends:\u00a0 it\u2019s not true.\u00a0 I don\u2019t<\/em> have the patience of Job.\u00a0 But the reality is, in my semi-humble opinion, that Job wasn\u2019t patient!\u00a0 Shocking.\u00a0 (Another \u201chear me out\u201d here…)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In my continuous pursuit of wisdom, I routinely invest in writings that are historically noted for their accuracy and truth.\u00a0 Once again, I just completed reading through the book of Job.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here was a man who was blameless \u2014 a man of complete integrity.\u00a0 He was wealthy and wise yet seemingly humble and giving.\u00a0 And over the course of a few stunning days, the man lost his family, possessions, and good health.\u00a0 Such is a set of circumstances that undoubtedly would cause each of us to cry out, arguably inserting a bit of \u201cwhy me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But Job went further.\u00a0 While at first seemingly attempting to persevere and maintain his humility \u2014 a component contemporary society often negates from its integrity definition \u2014 Job\u2019s countenance and composure changed.\u00a0 Granted, he had a few friends around him who were certainly not helpful, yet Job became demanding.\u00a0 He cursed the day of his birth.\u00a0 He questioned the wisdom of God.\u00a0 He questioned not only God\u2019s wisdom but his power and all of creation.\u00a0 He condemned God to justify himself. \u00a0(Fascinating concept… condemning God to justify self… my thinking… my behavior…)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who knows how any of us would act under such a tragic, unthinkable set of circumstances?\u00a0 Truthfully, most of us would probably act much like Job.\u00a0 The reality is that such is not considered patient.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n More false phrases exist…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … \u201chead over heels\u201d<\/em>… aren\u2019t heads already over heels?<\/p>\n … \u201ccould care less\u201d<\/em> … then why are we speaking to begin with?\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it \u201ccouldn\u2019t\u201d??<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or one of my funny favorites…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … \u201cthe whole 9 yards\u201d<\/em>… wait… all NFL enthusiasts know that 9 yards are not \u201cwhole\u201d; a team has to go 10 yards to actually continue down the field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sorry, friends.\u00a0 I\u2019m not very patient today.\u00a0 Have I shared that I do not have the patience of Job?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Much of what we say actually means something else.\u00a0 Hear me out on this, friends. We utilize multiple words and phrases that are either inaccurate or utterly fallacious.\u00a0 It\u2019s seemingly most often unintentional; however, today I\u2019m wondering about the colloquial error of our ways.\u00a0 I speak not about the grammatical misuse of \u201clie\u201d vs.\u00a0\u201clay\u201d … <\/p>\n