Blogs: Once upon a time: Blogs: Once upon a time

Blogs: Once upon a time

Date Added: 02/05/2025 @ 10:25am

Once upon a time, in a world that doesn’t seem so very far away, I knew exactly what everyone was saying and exactly what everyone meant. I didn’t have a problem. It was easy. I knew that if someone said that something was 'far out' then that thing was very cool in a weird and exciting kind of way. I also knew that if something was 'groovy' it was cool in a hip sort of way. Robert referred to himself as groovy until the day he died - and he was! I think most of us were sympathetic if someone said something was a 'bummer' and we all knew what 'jeepers creepers' meant. It was obvs!

But sadly, the adults I knew and mixed with - the ones looking after me - the ones trying to influence me, were 'out to lunch' (1) with such terminology.  They just looked blank. They didn’t have a clue. And that was wicked! It was hilarious! And I was never ever going to be like that. I was always going to know what was being said and what things meant. Defo.

But a strange thing has happened, and a whole new vocabulary has appeared and, between ourselves, (nod, nod, wink wink) I haven’t got a clue what any of it means. I find myself acquiring that 'out to lunch' look of my mother, and desperately trying to erase if before someone I’m related to notices it and comments – or even worse, sniggers!

Here’s an example: I think I know what 'Biblically accurate' means. I’m a vicar! But I certainly didn’t know what it means to this generation. And as for 'delulu'. I thought I’d have a guess. 'Before I go, I need to nip to the delulu…?' Not a bit of it! It means delusional. And 'drip' refers to a really cool outfit! How easy to put one's foot well and truly in it and confirm to the yoof that I am an Okay Boomer - and apparently that’s not something I want to be!

Things move on. Words acquire or lose meaning. Who for example knows what Mothering Sunday is? What does it mean? What is Holy Week or Maundy Thursday or Agape, or Pentecost? Christian Easter is being cancelled. Who or what is a vicar? When I tell people I am a Christian does anyone have a clue what I mean? In the course that we have been doing 'Practicing the Way' we have been encouraged to describe ourselves as apprentices to Jesus, being with him, following his teaching, adopting his lifestyle. It’s how it was for a few people 2000 years ago. It caught on. No new vocabulary required. Try it. Trust me it 'slaps'! (2)

 

1. Confused; clueless        

2. Something that’s really great.