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Coco Calling No.249 - A Question of Words and What Really Matters

Writer's picture: CocoCoco


Parrots are well known for being great talkers. Yes, we like to learn human speech, and some of us are really good at it. African Grey parrots regularly learn between 300 and 1000 words, and there’s a small budgie somewhere in the world called ‘Puck’ who is said to speak more than 1700 words.


I’m afraid that yours truly isn’t quite so good at it, and half of my problem is that humans overcomplicate their speech by using the same word to mean different things. For example, a “bat” is something which lives in the roof of our house, and which can be used to play cricket. A “bill” is an unwanted demand which comes through the letterbox, but which is particularly useful for catching fish or worms. There is also “charge,” which is a fee for goods and services, but which can give you an electric shock. A “court” is a place where you can enjoy a game of tennis, but where you end up needing the judge to tell you whose won. And “jam” seems to be a fruit and sugar spread which can end up sticking lines of cars together.


And then humans employ a whole load of double-meanings when they decide to talk about things that are bad for them. For example, I always thought that:


“Grass” is what my owner cuts with his lawnmower.

“Speed” is the level of propulsion achieved on his mower when he opens up the throttle.

A “Weed” is a plant which grows in the wrong place.

“Coke” is a fizzy drink that makes humans belch.

A “crack” is what’s opening up on my owner’s face as he gets older.

A “pot” is what my owner cooks a casserole in.

“Snow” is what falls from the sky on a wintry day.

And finally, that “a skunk” is something which makes America smell bad, (along with Elon Musk).


This sad state of affairs is compounded by the fact that many humans judge one other on whether they know all of these double meanings or not.  If you do, then you’re “cool” and “one of the gang.” If you don’t, then you’re “naïve,” a “stiff” or “a prude.”


And I don’t think that’s very nice. And it certainly isn’t like God’s world. Because there, everybody is already “in,” irrespective of who they are, and what they might, or might not know. Nobody is judged on their knowledge of “double meanings” or “bad words.” No, it’s all about who we really are, what we’re like, and whether we are able to recognise the pure love of God.


So I might not be the world’s greatest linguist or a champion parrot talker, but I’m really rather glad about that. Because I’d rather aim high, and focus on God, than be drawn into the mire of human wretchedness. Even if there are some humans out there that will laugh at me.


“What is the Gospel according to Jesus? Simply this: that the love we all long for in our innermost heart is already present, beyond longing.”   

(Stephen Mitchell: [1943 – present]: American poet, scholar and anthologist).


“God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfil His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.”                   

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer: [1906 – 1945]: German Lutheran Pastor and anti-Nazi dissident who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp before being executed).


“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”                              

(John 8:12b)                                                           

 

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