What’s in a word?

I love words. Not only are some of them inherently beautiful, but I’m fascinated by the way we create sounds that contain meanings.

Sure, the Book of Proverbs does warn that “when words are many, sin is not absent”, but it balances the assertion by also pointing out that “a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” which, although probably bad for the teeth, presumably represents something good.

I guess my love of words might explain why John’s prologue is my favourite of all the readings that frequently appear in carol services. In my previous church (a phrase no pastor should use too often!) it was the tradition that the minister read the opening verses of John’s Gospel as the final reading in the carol service and the words were so precious to me that I would find myself feeling uncharacteristically nervous in the seconds before I stood to read it.