Sound Words (Page 16)

TALENT The Bible seems to take for granted the varied abilities of mankind. Adam was given responsibility to dress and keep the garden in which he was placed. How did he know what to do? I had the benefit of growing up in rural America where having a garden was part of life. I remember a few things, mostly that I hate to hoe corn. Who first thought that swinging a sharp blade toward your toes was a good idea?…

TEACHING Teaching is a noble profession. The molding of young, impressionable minds sets the moral and professional direction of children’s lives. Teaching in a structured setting is difficult. Teaching takes preparation. It takes dedication to the subject and dedication to the student. I applaud those who are willing to serve in this capacity. Not all teaching is done in a classroom or from a podium. We are all teachers. Patient explanations for the barrage of “whys?” coming from a toddler…

TRUIMPH To triumph is to achieve great victory. Humans are ingrained with a competitive spirit. This is especially true if your last name is Smith. That spirit explains our elation and unbridled celebration of victory. It also explains the disappointment of defeat. In many the desire to win is so strong that our spirits are absolutely crushed if we do not win. How many times did your mother remind you as a child that “nobody likes a sore loser”? Learning…

TEARS Tears are a vital part of the human experience. There are several types. The first type is basal tears which continuously lubricate the eye. The second type is reflex tears. These well up to flush out irritants, such as dust, and clear away foreign objects. We don’t give much thought to basal or reflex tears. They take no thought or effort. The third type is emotional tears. These are the tears that we don’t like to think about although…

TIME Time may be considered an enemy or a friend depending on one’s perspective. On one hand it is precise and reliable. On the other hand, it is finite and fleeting. We observe cycles in nature that are more precise than what the best of our timekeeping mechanisms can replicate. The “Scientific American” website has an interesting article on the history of timekeeping. Residents nearer the equator found lunar cycles more helpful while those farther from the equator were influenced…

THE TONGUE James paints an unflattering picture of the human tongue. “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue.…