When I hear people casually mention "the Holy Spirit," I smile. When someone around me says "Insh'allah" (god willing in Arabic), I get happy. I love it when Jews say "Baruch Hashem" (God bless in Hebrew). The people who say these things are so faithful and their religion is such an integral part of their lives that it sanctifies their words, slipping into their everyday speech, even with people not of their own faith.
I thought about it this past weekend at the Religion Newswriters Association conference in San Antonio. In a session on megachurches, Rev. Rickey D. Hill, a pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, referred to the "holy spirit" several times. The holy spirit was leading him somewhere, it was convincing him of something, it was playing an active role in his everyday life, and he was telling us all about it. I think that kind of faith that permeates your entire life is beautiful.
At a Ramadan iftar, or break-fast dinner, on campus last week, several people mentioned that something was "insh'allah," in addition to using my other favorite Muslim phrase, "peace be upon him," to be said after the name of Muhammad or any of the other prophets, i.e. Moses, Jesus. It's like second nature to most Muslims to say, and I love hearing it come off the tips of people's tongues.
I myself resolved to inject some more God-awareness into my speech recently, after a summer hearing my adorable and very devout friend who now lives in Israel constantly say "B'Ezrat Hashem" -- "with the help of God" -- a popular phrase in religious circles when discussing something planned in the future, and very similar in concept to "insh'allah."
I have mostly been unsuccessful in this endeavor so far. Since it's in Hebrew, I can only say it in the original around Jews, but my use of both the English and the Hebrew versions has been limited. It's fairly awkward to all of a sudden name drop God in earnest in a conversation, especially when people are not used to it. But I love the idea, and even if it doesn't become a normal part of my vocabulary, I will keep hoping that someone inserts a "holy spirit" or a "peace be upon him" into daily conversation around me.
Comments (10)
I've always preferred the iteration of early Massachusetts:
THERE IS NO COD BUT COD!
Posted October 3, 2007 8:43 AM
Posted on October 3, 2007 08:43
Shari,
Thank you for opening your heart to all believers.
Hodu L'Adonai ki tov!
-Give thanks to the LORD for He is good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElTYL9zNQ8E
Posted October 2, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 16:41
Simon,
Your Hebrew is very limited: the verb form "chmd*" is a common word for to desire, to wish. (In Hebrew a verbal prefix of "mu" would indicate the passive causal mood.) The sentence is describing how the lover's entire body is desirable and in Hebrew grammar the plural is necessary, since the adjective "machamadim" modifies a plural noun.
*Ch in Hebrew is pronounced something like the Scottish ch.
Posted October 2, 2007 2:26 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 14:26
Simon,
Your Hebrew is very limited: the verb form "chmd*" is a common word for to desire, to wish. (In Hebrew a verbal prefix of "mu" would indicate the passive causal mood.) The sentence is describing how the lover's entire body is desirable and in Hebrew grammar the plural is necessary, since the adjective "machamadim" modifies a plural noun.
*Ch in Hebrew is pronounced something like the Scottish ch.
Posted October 2, 2007 2:19 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 14:19
Simon,
Your Hebrew is very limited: the verb form "chmd*" is a common word for to desire, to wish. (In Hebrew a verbal prefix of "mu" would indicate the passive causal mood.) The sentence is describing how the lover's entire body is desirable and in Hebrew grammar the plural is necessary, since the adjective "machamadim" modifies a plural noun.
*Ch in Hebrew is pronouced something like the Scottish ch.
Posted October 2, 2007 2:06 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 14:06
i dont read hebrew but i had heard somewhere that the name of Rasul was in that verse. I did not understand that it was in hebrew and looked for it in english and wondered what they meant.
thank you for this information
shalom and salaams
Posted October 2, 2007 1:34 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 13:34
Dear Humans,
Can you show me the word Judaism in the OT?
The word Christianity in the OT/NT?
Why follow a religion that is absent from the holly text?!
There is only one true religion: Islam.
Just follow the Holly Bible
See Verse 16 in Ch 5 of Song of Songs at this location
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3005.htm
Look at the Hebrew text. You will see the Name Mohammad there! Just remove the "i" and "m" used for making a noun plural.
Shalom!
Posted October 2, 2007 1:00 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 13:00
Dear Humans,
Can you show me the word Judaism in the OT?
The word Christianity in the OT/NT?
Why follow a religion that is absent from the holly text?!
There is only one true religion: Islam.
Just follow the Holly Bible
See Verse 16 in Ch 5 of Song of Songs at this location
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3005.htm
Look at the Hebrew text. You will see the Name Mohammad there! Just remove the "i" and "m" used for making a noun plural.
Shalom!
מַחֲמַדִּים
Posted October 2, 2007 1:00 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 13:00
well, you can sneak some 'god willings' in there once in awhile- and with people you will meet in the future, they'll just accept this addition (even in hebrew) as part of who you are.
i can say this in here because its so sweet- but sometimes- (as a muslim) whe imtryin gt pin someone down on a future committment of some kind and i get an insha'alla(if god wills it) i'll respond EVERYTHING is what god wills, but what do YOU will?
so i agree with mr haber that the utterance of god must be a thoughtful and conscous thing- otherwise it may seem insincere
i have a practice of public prayer that i hope is only for the pleasure of god-
when i feel that i may be getting the praises of men for my prayer- i keep it quiet- when i feel that it may cause some consternation in the eyes of men- i do it more openly.
really only god knows what is in our hearts-
but if it feels odd or insincere at first to do this- it will become a beautiful positive habit
that will become reinforced with practice and i promise you if done attentively- will eventually become part of who you are-
also, you never know how your respectful but confirmed witness may affect someone you dont even realize is pying any attention.
peace
Posted October 2, 2007 10:26 AM
Posted on October 2, 2007 10:26
Shari,
It's funny. The same habit both endears me to, and repulses me from, people. It depends on how I perceive their usage. If it seems to be a sham, then it bothers me, as when politicians wield God's name for a few votes (maybe). If they seem to just use it as a cultural expression then it bothers me, though a bit less because its very thoughtlessness makes it somehow more sincere than a politician's calculated usage. If the person appears to really mean it, it makes me happy.
I try very hard, going back very frequently to prayer in search of clarification and purification, not to judge other's hearts. We can know *what* they do, but not *why* they do. It's hard to rely on God's help. Even to rely on God's help I need to ask Him for help.
Most of my friends and I ask God's blessing on our meal before eating, whether in our homes or out in the world. Not wanting to speak for others, I think we are all on the same page: we don't want to be showy or flashy, but we are not going to be ashamed or embarrassed, and we are not going to live double lives either. When I see people bless their meals in public, it always makes me very happy, and feel a deep brotherhood with them. Sometimes, if it seems opportune, I'll make a point of thanking them, as a way of encouraging them to continue, and so maybe they'll feel the same fraternity.
God bless you.
Posted October 2, 2007 10:03 AM
Posted on October 2, 2007 10:03