"Whatever"

 

“Whatever”

 

Here in Florida caps are commonly worn, especially during hot weather to protect from sunburn. Most have an emblem of some kind representing military units, sports teams, faith and many other things. I have nine “lids” with my two favorites being a blue Brooklyn Dodgers retro and one identifying me as a “Proud Grandfather of a U.S. Marine”. My brother Dave often wears his “Vietnam Veteran” hat and enjoys greeting fellow vets with “Welcome Home”.

Recently while eating a “fancy” lunch with Karen at a gourmet restaurant (aka Sam’s Club) I noticed a gentleman a couple of tables away wearing a cap saying “Whatever”. For several years I’d had a note in my blog piling system for an article on this topic and this observation gave me the incentive to write about it. My research found that it’s a “highly versatile word” (Wiktionary), commonly used to express options, dismiss an argument or show indifference. I remember Archie Bunker’s using the word derisively several times on “All in the Family” and others in the sense of “So what?”

Our contemporary world uses the word primarily in a negative fashion. But this is nothing new. About halfway through his forty-year reign over Israel King Solomon turned from God’s ways and tried to find purpose through pleasures and projects. Did it work? Read his “spiritual autobiography” (aka Ecclesiastes) to see how his “whatevers” didn’t cut it and his conclusion was, “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NLT). The Apostle Paul, however, uses it in a positive way. He states in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” And in Philippians 4:8 he writes, “…Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable…think on these things.” (Emphasis added throughout). God’s “whatevers” are uplifting to Him and us while those of people often display an “I really don’t care!” attitude. Which honors Him and shows respect for others” Which doesn’t? Will we accept Paul’s counsel to “…think (and speak) …with sound judgment….” (Romans 12:3, AMP), whatever the situation may be?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan