The Word “Just” Is Hereby Banned (Updated)
May 17th, 2009 by Micah Tillman | 5 Comments |
I was visiting another church this morning, since I was out of town, and encountered once again that marvelous phenomenon whereby the number of occurrences of the word “just” grows and grows till eventually every prayer breaks down into a random string of various names for God, separated by the word “just.”
In the spirit of the event, dear Reader, I’d just like to to say now, Reader, that I just wanna thank you, Person, for just coming to my site today in this moment, Friend, to just commune Reader with one just another and just Person place Friend just Reader just just Friend Reader Person just Person just.
Just just just, just Reader just, Friend.
Just.
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[Update: May 18, 1:16pm]
The Wife and I were talking the subject over last night, and came to two interesting conclusions.
First, I decided that the word “just” is used as an “affective performative”: The speaker uses it to make him- or herself sound more passionate.
Second, the Wife decided that it was a kind of Protestant twist on liturgy.
It’s tough to “mean it” when you’re reading pre-scripted prayers (cf. bad acting), and thus the freedom of Protestant, extemporaneous prayer seems to make things more “real.”
However, instead of actually speaking freely, some introduce the “just” script. It’s a script masquerading as passion (as “meaning it”).
It’s a crutch that was specially designed to make you look like you’re dancing.
Ahahahahaha.
*clears throat* ahem.
*snickers*
:D
You are absolutely right and I absolutely agree.
Hmmm,
That’s kind of funny.
I’m not sure if this is a justification, defense, or criticism of the word “just” but I wonder if it’s not also a way to limit the scope of what we’re asking for and to agnowledge God’s hugeness.
Like most everything, this can be used for good or ill, depending, but it’s a bit like approaching a millionaire and saying “I’m not asking for a million dollars, I’m just asking for a hundred.”
I might pray “God, just come here among us.” and I could mean “I don’t want riches, I don’t want explanations for all of life’s hurts, I only want your presence.”
Or I could pray “God, just take the cancer away from my grandmother.” and I could mean, “To me, a hairless monkey with delusions of grandeur, lifting the cancer is so far beyond what I could ever do. But for you, it’s like batting an eyelash, Because you are so powerful.”
It looks humble, allows us to ask what we want to, implies we have great faith in God, and sets up a cadence, a sort-of refrain; there’s both the musicality of it and the fact that it’s a filler when we run out of steam that makes appear more spiritual than saying “uhh.” a lot.
Obviously, I’m quite ambivalent about the use of the word ‘just.’
Good point. The word “just” is, as it is usually used in prayers, a limitation. One uses the word to “focus down” to something singular, to exclude the extraneous, to center in on what is truly of moment.
This creates an intensification, as it implies that one is pouring one’s whole self or desire into “just this one thing” or “desire” or “request” or “wish.” It implies that one “counts everything else as loss in comparison” with this one thing.
It is, in short, an expression of singular devotion and self-mortification. It implies one is not only willing to, but actually desires to give up all else in exchange for this one thing (witness the frequent combination of “just” with “wanna,” as in, “Lord, we just wanna thank you . . .”).
Therefore, the word “just,” and the ease with which it fits into so many different places in every sentence, becomes a simple tool for making oneself look and feel devoted. It’s an easy way of making oneself sound and feel holy (“set apart”).
The thing is that it works; and thus its ease of use means no one is consciously using the word in this way. It’s the reason and motivation for using the word, but it’s so natural, easy, effective, and attractive that it just comes out automatically.
(It’s like the fact that you don’t consciously walk to the bathroom; it’s just the most natural, easy, effective, and attractive way of getting there — it’s so natural, easy, effective, and attractive, in fact, that you don’t have to consciously choose it from among the other options [crawling, rolling, scooting, hopping, running, flying, etc.])
So, it’s sickening — nauseating — to listen to [for me!], but there’s no conscious self-celebration on the part of (most of) those who use it. It is a self-celebration, but an unconscious one.
I should add, however, that the word “just” can be not only a way of feeling and looking devoated/passionate, but also of expression one’s devotion/passion.
I hate to admit it, since the practice annoys me so much, but it’s true.