How about making the L less long?

I overheard this comment today from 2 students who were putting together a logo on the computer.

"How about making the L less long?"

Their comment did not invite a reply from me but as these words hung in the air, I couldn't help responding with the following; "Don't you mean to say how about making the L shorter?"

They turned around and smiled. "Yes. Make it shorter."

My dad loves to correct my grammar and would have pounced on this inconsistency immediately without a thought. Actually, most of his reaction in response would have come from years of grammar being drilled into him like there was no tomorrow. Both he and my mum frequently yell at TV newscasters and anchor men and women misusing comparatives:

"Less short," instead of "longer."
"More sunny," instead of "Sunnier."
"Far bigger," instead of "greater..." and so the list goes on.

However, I am wondering if being right is a good enough reason to correct another person and even if it is, the correction must be done in a manner that does not override the other's self esteem of sense of worth; in this case, for instance. If correction is to be given, it matters how it is given.

I am in the process of preparing for Sunday's sermon and I am preaching on John 4; Jesus' interaction with a woman, a woman whose name we are not given. However this woman's response to Jesus' words is running back to her town and announcing to anyone that will listen that Jesus is the Messiah, the one for whom they have been waiting, as he told her "everything" she ever did (this is not quite true as all Jesus told her was that she has had 5 husbands and the man with whom she was currently living was not her husband). But the point is that Jesus' words to her caused her to act well and not to get defensive over her past mistakes.

How we respond and react to people with our words really matters. Using our words carefully, even in correction is vital and even if the L needs to be shorter rather than less long, our need to correct must reflect that love is always the app from which we speak.

Stand up and stand out

I read this morning from Seth Godin's blog;

"But now more than ever, I believe we have an obligation to stand up, stand out and to do work that matters. Wherever you are, there's an opportunity to be different, with respect."

He wrote those words on September 11 under a blog title, "It's different here." He was talking about New York; the good things about a city where over 40 languages are overheard in the public library, where every kind of food is found and can be cooked any way, where the city is constantly changing, constantly active and constantly vibrant.

I like that.

It led me to consider how, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are different and in ways that really make a difference for good. I was in Panera Bread last night, getting dinner before meeting up with a friend and the servers had misplaced my order. They were so apologetic that I stopped to wonder just how often they are spoken to less then graciously when food is not before us asap. We are so used to fast food being FAST that when it is slower than fast, we show frustration and annoyance rather than grace.

We have an opportunity to be different. May we be different with respect to how we are as disciples of Jesus Christ.