Periodically, a new buzz word surfaces and many people will say it. In the last presidential contest, the democratic side frequently spouted the buzz word “misinformation.” I guess that is more politically correct than to say someone lied. There is also the word “disinformation” which suggests an intention to lie. Why don’t we just say “lie?”
Over the last several months, I have frequently heard speakers indicate that someone “had agency.” Up until hearing this, I always thought of “agency” as a business. But the buzz phrase about agency is to indicate that someone has awareness that he has choice and exercises that choice. It seems to me that we could continue to use the word choice and it would be okay. Since my professional field is counseling, I wonder if I should start spouting this buzz word also.
The trouble with buzz words is that they can be short-lived for just a season and later use may actually generate confusion. I remember reading a book about life in the 1920s and the word “gay” meant happy and carefree at that time. Today it means homosexual. Buzz words can also present lack of clarity such as the word “agency.”
Words are very important tools for us. They can help or harm in our relationships. They can guide actions and they can camouflage true intentions such as accusation of misinformation from a person instead of just saying they lied. Words may seem to be little things, but are actually very powerful, especially since once given, they cannot be returned to the sender.
The Bible has a lot to say about our words, especially in the book of Proverbs. One theme is that our words out of our mouths reflect the inner person. So if we want our words to be good things, we have to work on our inner person so that when we speak, that will come out.
