Monday, June 6, 2022 Awesome

On our walk around the neighborhood, we often pass by a house that has a sign by the front door that reads “Come In – We Are Awesome.” I’m old enough to remember a time when we weren’t throwing the word “awesome” around like so much confetti. My dad was a teacher and I recall the day he told me that the new word that everyone was using was “awesome.” He didn’t think much of the trend.

We have a reprinted 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster. I thought it would be interesting to see what Noah had to say about the word “awesome.” Guess what? It’s not even IN the 1828 dictionary. He has defined the word “awe,” however, so I think we can extrapolate from that word how he would define the word “awesome.” So here we go:
1. Fear mingled with admiration or reverence; reverential fear.
2. Fear; dread inspired by something great or terrific.

It’s somewhat amusing to contemplate someone putting that on their welcome sign. “Come In – We will inspire fear, admiration, reverence and dread in you!” Of course, the meaning used now for awesome is more in the line of “very impressive.” It seems a long way away from the original meaning of the word, though, doesn’t it? And furthermore, it seems to detract from the compliment if you have to say it about yourself, in my opinion.

Wait – that’s not just my opinion. Proverbs 27:2 says “Let another praise you and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” I set that verse to music and sang it with our children when they were growing up. I’ll tell you a little secret – I needed to hear it as much as they did. Maybe more.

I don’t want to be too hard on neighbors we’ve never met. In all likelihood they are very nice and welcoming people, especially with a sign like that by their door. But I’d hesitate to call anyone truly awesome, other than God.

“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the might, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17

I’ll probably delete this AWESOME post in the morning! Just kidding about the “awesome” part.