What is "Blue"? Speaking and understanding the meaning behind the words.

 

Living in Canada, we used to hear the phrase, "I'm feeling blue." Or, we listened to "blues" music.

Then we went to Brazil and learned a delightful phrase, "Tudo azul!" (Literally, "Everything's blue!)

In North America, and for those speaking English, "blue" has the connotation of feeling downcast, feeling moody, not knowing what's ahead, or harkening back to something, or someone, or some time when things were better than right now.

But Brazilians, Portuguese, Angolans, and those in Mozambique know that "Tudo azul" is a most optimistic phrase. As in: "The sky is blue, and everything is going to be fine!" Or, "I just bought a used car, and boy did I ever get a great deal!" Or, "I sat down for my university entrance exams, and I'm positive that I passed with flying colors!"

How can a color represent such opposite meanings? Well, words convey cultural meanings, much as a cloudy sky carries water hidden in the atmosphere. You can't see what's there, but you have a good idea of how others interpret things. You can even forecast the weather (sometimes)!

Coming into 2021, we need to make a decision, not a "New Year's Resolution."--There's a phrase that can be unpacked with as many layers of tears as a freshly harvested onion! -- It's a commitment to live lovingly. It's so necessary is to speak words that build others up, but so easy to tear down another person through a quick, unkind comment. Let's think about the words we use and what we mean in the hidden layers of our speech. 

Or, as Colossians 4:6 puts it -- with a ton of hidden meanings within the meaning of "salt" -- "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Tudo azul!