As this year begins, I am reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Actually I’m rereading a used, well-thumbed, yellowed -with -age edition, marked with margin comments. It took me a few pages to realize the notes are my own so it will be amusing to see my take on the book way back when!

I’m rereading this classic novel because I gave it to my oldest granddaughter for Christmas and wanted to be reading along with her. Hopefully, she’ll actually open the book and get engrossed. This year I gave all my grand kids classic literature because I am concerned with both content and quality of the books which they’re reading. They’re great readers because they’ve been encouraged to read at home by their parents. How thankful I am for that! However, a thousand pages of Harry Potter will never compare in moral teaching, mental challenge and grace of language to a chapter or two of Mark Twain or Charles Dickens. I fear for the loss of inspirational, challenging, righteous literature for my grandchildren’s generation.

I’m reading Jane Austen again because her use of the English language is vastly different from English in the 21st century and I’ve become language lazy. I have to consciously engage my mind to unearth the wit and gentle ways Austen skewers class society of her time. (Today Austen would probably get into hot water with the pc police, if they could even understand what she was saying!) She wrote with magnificent abundance of words; in contrast, my casual reliance on texting, emojis and cliff note analyses show how I’ve let shallow language to shape even shallower ideas. I’m chagrined to even admit it.

As I’m rereading, I think of my friend Rex McCoy who taught English with me. Rex was in special forces in Vietnam and sent into mine- filled tunnels after the Viet Cong. After that nightmare, Rex returned home, attended college, majored in English and specialized in Austen. It was the strangest academic fit, but his classes were never dull or boring. He got his students’ attention with war stories but challenged them to think with Austen. I believe Rex needed to work through untold horrors in Vietnam and he found solace in literature and hope in teaching. He chose well, imparting to young people something timeless, beautiful and inspirational. I desperately want to thank Rex now.

Challenged by Austen, I am alarmed how today’s public language mirrors our personal and national character. Scripture says that out of the mouth come both blessings and curses. Listen to the news and it’s apparent we’ve gone over the edge. Increasingly, language is a deadly weapon in the mouths of the ungodly who curse and fear no one any more, especially God. Sadly, words are also foolishly misused by those chosen to lead us. Just when I think it can’t get worse, appallingly, it does. I am utterly weary of the world’s speech.

Language is God’s precious gift to us humans for we are the only species with the privilege. From the beginning to the end of time, God is speaking – and He engages men through words so that they learn God’s character, actions and nature and are invited into relationship with Him. Jesus is the Word through whom all things exist so we must hang tightly to God’s Word and truth. Despite all the vulgar, screaming voices condemning and cursing, the Bible has to be our highest language standard to love, bless, encourage and give hope. Thank God for writers like Jane Austen, daughter of a minister, who choose to honor God and one another with uplifting language. Pray that He raises up a new, courageous generation of righteous authors who will do likewise.