The Dark Glass » Response to a Word http://www.thedarkglass.net Trying to nail down the shifting signifiers Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:00:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Response to a Word: Holy http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/03/10/response-to-a-word-holy/ http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/03/10/response-to-a-word-holy/#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2007 03:44:22 +0000 Anthony Velez http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/03/10/response-to-a-word-holy/ Upon hearing the word “Holy” many images and associations come to mind. Immediately, I think of high gothic arches and stained glass windows, but right along with this I think of dour figures who, with long faces and religious contempt, hold the world and all people at a distance. This word also prompts a vision of angels dancing in flight before God’s brilliant light, but it also prompts fear, since it is by God’s holiness that I will be judged. To this day when I hear this word I think about rules and regulations, dos and dont’s, and yet over the years I have come to believe that the word “holy” is best seen in those who live in pure love. Other than this, anything that aspires to be holy is like the Devil grasping for the throne of God.

*******

Holy: 1) specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority. 2) dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion. Origin: from Old English “halig”, from German “heilig”, related to the Latin word “sanctus”. The Primary (pre-Christian) meaning is not possible to determine, but it was probably related to the Old English word “hal”, which means health, and conceptually refers to something that must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated.

]]> http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/03/10/response-to-a-word-holy/feed/ 4 Response to a Word: Redemption http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/01/29/reflection-on-a-word/ http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/01/29/reflection-on-a-word/#comments Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:19:56 +0000 Anthony Velez http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/01/29/reflection-on-a-word/ If I could just undo that one stupid thing, take back those nasty words, get back that time I spent pursuing and doing foolishness. But now, I am reaping the consequences and riding the negative momentum of something, or a series of several somethings, I did in the past. Now, not only am I experiencing negative circumstances, but in some way I know I’ve been misshapen by unseen wounds and scars, which have the effect of inclining me to do further stupid, mean, and selfish things. What a tight little circle I’m in, I spin in this tight little cycle of sin.

*******

Redemption: the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. Archaic: to buy the freedom of. Origin: late Middle English, from Latin “redimere” to buy back.

]]> http://www.thedarkglass.net/2007/01/29/reflection-on-a-word/feed/ 4