There are so many words and phrases we use routinely without thinking about. I was reminded of this today as I complained to a friend about a frustrating problem at work. (Harumph.) Eventually I managed to find a solution. (Huzzah.) Upon hearing this, she replied “I’m glad.”
What triggered my reflection on the phrase was that I could tell she truly was glad I had solved my problem. This was significant becaus we so often we use the words “I’m glad” to signify some sort of acknowledgment of a fact.
Person One: I’m going to start on Project X
Person Two: I’m glad
As likely as not, Person One’s imminent occupation with Project X produces no significant emotional change in Person Two. Person Two probably isn’t any gladder or sadder about the world because of Person One’s newfound employment.
In thinking about this, it makes a difference who the person in question is. The contentment of the people close to us does tend to make us happier than the satisfaction of others. But it wouldn’t be incredibly polite, when addressing those others, to simply say “ah,” “oh,” or “I see” to them. Thus the expression is universal.
I suppose we could also blame it on figures of speech.
Another case. It’s not uncommon to find the younger generation, especially males, taking leave of each other with the simple phrase “Peace.” The term is actually quite refreshing. Peace. Go now. But chances are we forget the origin of such partings.
The term is ancient, going back to time and cultures far before ours.
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
- Numbers 6:24-26
and
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”
- 1 Samuel 1:17
The simple word “peace” contains so much within it. The wish for success, the call for grace, and the desire for the blessing of the very Lord of the universe to rest upon the departing person.
There’s probably nothing that can be done about this lack of thought about our words and phrases. It’s just a fact of life. One can try to emphasize the words particularly, use emoticons, or otherwise embellish them when talking. Yet we’ll inevitably fall into patterns of speaking. Perhaps that’s a good thing. One can’t think about the deep meaning of expressions all the time, after all.
But, remember, now and again, the meaning. May you Go in Peace.
Tags: expression, glad, peace
Interesting thought. I am typically annoyed by people who constantly say “peace” as a departing comment because it always makes me wonder–do they really want peace, or are they saying it because it’s cool (a retro 60′s sort of thing)?
To solve this problem, I began responding in emails and casual leavings with, “War.” Heck, I like war. And as Exodus 15:3 says, “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.”
War,
Paul