I believe words shape our worlds. Our words either connect people with us or they propel them away. We have a choice as to how we will use words. Words are never accidental. They are always intentional. They may be regrettable but we all say what we want to say. That’s why Jesus said we would be judged by every word that fell from our mouths.
There are a few words that I have found in use that are very interesting. I thought I’d share a couple of them with you. The first is the word “epic.” I first heard this word used in a “hip” way by my dentist. I was strapped to the dental chair and immobilized by painkillers, but I still heard the word. He had had an “epic” experience mountain climbing the previous week. I was hoping for a less than epic experience on me that day. Just plain old mundane is what I wanted from my dentist.
I actually asked him to put a Star of David on one of my crowns. He did. I was totally out of it when I asked for the favor. So I was surprised when I got home and saw that in fact I have the star of David etched on the lower part of my left jaw. It was epic.
I want to live a life filled with “epicness.” But I am worn out sometimes and simple will do most of the time. Epic suggests to me a life lived with a lot of adrenaline. I like adrenaline but a lot less than I used to. I have had a lot of epic and it just doesn’t seem to last as long as simple. But my mind is young enough it craves a little more epic. I am wise enough now to know that epic only comes with risk. And when you have nothing to lose epic isn’t a big threat. But when you reach a point where you have paid the furniture off and the house down you just don’t want to risk. You want to be simple.
But the youngest oldest people I know keep looking for epic. True “epicness” isn’t driven by adrenaline it is driven by calculated faith.
The latest epic experience I have had was losing my dog and having him show up a week later. It was a miracle but I won’t take you through that journey now. It made me feel ebullient. I love the little sport and living without his partnership was a painful thought. But he came back and I felt epic. It was big.
Epic means larger than life. It is an audacious kind of living. I like living big but not being seen while I do. Some people I know live in “epicness” and love to be seen. I have a friend who drives a Hummer. He is big in that thing. I’d like one but my wife says I’d look like a selfish slob with gas as high as it is. I just live four minutes from my office and rarely drive anywhere else so I don’t see the harm a Hummer would cause. I would feel epic in one if I had it.
We Americans like epic stuff. And that’s good. One of the best parts about America is everyone can get rich if they want. Barack Obama put John McCain down for having seven houses recently. It didn’t bother me. I would like ten. That’s why I am an American. Epic living is good. The only challenge is to share the “epicness” with others who need the boost. If you can’t be epic in America where else are you going to go? America is epic. I love America and am proud to be an American. I am apolitical. But I don’t want to live anywhere where people are so jealous they don’t want anyone else to live large. I have a Russian friend who says he moved to America so he wouldn’t be held down by the smallness of others.
I am happy when others get more. It makes me feel good. I know that when others get more there is more to go around. There is a kind of thinking that says if a friend gets more there is less for me. This is wrong. The truth is the more my neighbor gets the more wealth there is to go around. Wealth is created not stolen. It is one of the basics principles of scripture that God gives and gives freely to all.
I am hopeful you will get epic. Not extravagant in a selfish way but in a simple way. Living simply meaning epic without complication. It means largeness that doesn’t alter the core person.
Another word I have been picking up on lately is the word robust. I like this word too. I hear it often now. It means to be full and growing and energetic. I like that. There is a lot of robust stuff around. I want to be robust. My aunt who is 82 still changes the sprinklers in her orchard to this day. She is robust. I want that. It is a lot better than feeling flat. Many people just feel flat about life in general. Robust takes concentration. It doesn’t happen accidentally.
I hope you will excuse me and let me live in a world where “epicness” is a good thing and living energetically about life isn’t just the domain of the young. I know a lot of flat young people. I want to have a robust flavor like freshly percolated coffee. I want my nostrils filled with life.
So don’t be jealous. There is enough energy and big living to pass around. Just a word to the wise, stick close to those living large and robustly and you might catch some of that kind of life. And stay away from the rest.
