POST 17/2026 GOSHEN IN . . . I’m sorting through files from my working years as a writer-editor, as well as from my early and current years. The files are destined for the shredder, archives, give-away, and personal retention. I created a timeline that really eases the effort. It’s a relief to have designated stacks from which I’ll do final culling. Nevertheless, progress is slow . . . such as when I pause to read an article. Like the one below from 47 years ago.

October 23, 1979

The article is “Hear, hear!” subtitle, “The joy of communication.” It was published in the then denominational weekly Gospel Herald. Dusted off, unrevised, interspersed with (unrelated) current photos, here it is:

“I’m surprised no crossword puzzle fan has added a word to recent requests in Gospel Herald and at Assembly 79 to keep our written language simple.

Almost home from a five-mile walk today. The signs of the changing season uplift the spirit.

“I agree with keeping our language simple. I also agree with keeping our language. Word painter John L Ruth aided the discussion (“A Word About Words,” GH, Aug.28). We need such a word to help us avoid going wopsy on thin English. We’d be remiss to confine our vocabulary to some select few of the 5,000 words we’ve learned as adults. Similarly, our language would go sour if we’d skip over words longer than 10 letters—exception, Schwartzentruber—and shorter words such as roux, quipu, matie, japer, esker, chub. Are we getting lazy about language? Is there a word power shortage? Are we adopting the vocabulary of television?

“Let’s, indeed, use simple words. Let’s use a lot of simple words. Let’s, however, have words become simple for us because they are the right words to learn. Let’s not avoid words just because they are new. The right words will help us say it plainly. Sloppy words excluded. With a kindly attitude to language, language will be kind to us. We’ll communicate.

“Meanings exist in people as much as in words. “By the user shall you know the word love,” I was once gently reminded. Attitude more than any highfalutin anything else determines the quality of our communication. With an attitude to learn, we’ll learn.

“We need a vigorous vocabulary to bring simplicity and directness to our language. Many adults learn fewer than 25 new words a year. Those who do best with learning new words turn their minds to it. They don’t rush off to the dictionary every time a strange word crosses their eye’s path. That’s too much work. But neither do they skip over the word or get angry about ‘this fly in my reading.’”

“People with an attitude for learning to communicate better will pause and let the word sink in. Why is it in the sentence? What does the context do to its meaning? What parts make up the word? Surprise! The word becomes incarnated. It’s yours. You’ll notice it time after time from now on. It’s at your command now.

“People needn’t be a Scrabble nut to enjoy new words. Even words that have been around for a long time take on new meanings with a little reflection: aardvark, boondoggle, myrrh, borscht. I like those words. I think some of the meaning of borscht is in me. The dictionary in this case, was handy to get behind the other words.

“I found out that I’ve been brushing my teeth with myrrh, and I may have given a little bottle of it to my wife. ‘Myrrh: a yellow to reddish brown aromatic bitter gum resin . . . used today chiefly in the manufacture of dentifrices and perfumes and as a stimulating tonic.’ I don’t have much reason to use the word myrrh, but it’s a tonic in itself to find connections with the ingredient used in incense and perfumes mentioned in Matthew 2:11.

“Words are our friends, not enemies. Let’s not avoid those we don’t know. No excuses. Each of us can add to the joy of communication. Say hello to the power in the top of your head. There’s no danger of outages in this small but mighty part of you. Put your word power to work—it works for you.”

October 3, 2026

I like the essay, even though it’s wordy. And a bit pushy for one who prefers understatement. It still holds my thought about keeping communication simple. I don’t remember what I wrote about visual communication but in this day and age I avoid memes.

If you have read this far, congratulations. Almost at the end.

Here, hear!

-John