Words

Words can have so much meaning depending upon how they are ordered or what meaning we attach to them. This is becoming more and more evident as I watch remakes of media. For example, there is a distinct difference between the version of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe as produced by Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, and that of the recent film. I knew the two would be different and I was prepared for differences but I was disappointed in the movie because of all the dialogue that was special to me that was left out. The biggest dialogue I miss is between Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and the children when the Beavers are trying to explain about Aslan. He’s the king and he’s a lion, and he isn’t a tame lion. The children ask if he’s safe and Mr. Beaver replies, “Of course he isn’t safe, but he’s good.” I understand that the significance of this conversation draws its power from the symbolism of Aslan as Jesus Christ but sitting in the movie theater watching the movie I couldn’t help but feel a little (or a lot) disappointed.

It’s the same thing for the two most recent film versions of Pride and Prejudice. The longer, more accurate A&E version runs 5 hours long but keeps the dialogue very well intact. The 2 hour Focus Films production kept some of the major lines, as well as some that provide a good chuckle. I recently watched both versions in quick succession to each other and felt that the Focus version was very rushed and one-dimensional. The audience only gets Elizabeth Bennett’s perspective, and even then it is without the dialogue with her sister Jane, provided by A&E, that shows the progression of her thoughts and experience. In the Focus version she is sitting on a swing…huh? Related to this objection is the failure of the Focus production to show Mr. Darcy’s side. He changes just as much, if not more than Elizabeth, and it is a tribute to the strength of Elizabeth’s character; but you don’t see that. Nor do you hear my favorite line in the whole ending of the A&E production (and probably the book also) during the conversation between Elizabeth and her father about the acceptance of Mr. Darcy’s proposal. Elizabeth ends her argument in support of her acceptance by saying that, “[Darcy] is truly the best man I have ever known.” And so the reversal of her feelings is complete but her words telling of her affection and confidence in the character of this man are more powerful than this one sentence. These words are empowering. I cannot think of any man who would not want the woman in his life to tell him, “You are the finest man I have ever known.” It applies the same for women as well I’m sure, though I’m not sure what form the finest would take.

Words can free and they can enslave. They can be a source of pain or a source of strength and encouragement.
Let us be mindful of our words then, that we may use them in a way honoring to our Heavenly Father, and those whom we hold so dear.