Slight as a cat’s eyelash,
one black mark
graces the page,
piquing my curiosity. O
how it pulses, as if
rendered in neon—
this exclamation point
humans assigned
to an angel,
in the gospel of Luke.
Printers call these marks gaspers, screamers, startlers. Many editors view them as lazy shortcuts. Or overkill. “Never expect punctuation to animate flabby prose.”
As a writer, this is my world. Render passion, yes; but ration those exclamation points. Say, one every six months. (Or every book and a half, as Elmore Leonard advises.)
In the NIV translation, Gabriel gets one—but not where we might expect it.
“Greetings,” he says.
This salutation alone—from a celestial being—seems worthy of emphasis. However, rigorous scholars inserted a comma, then continued the sentence: “. . . you who are highly favored!”
For Mary, a knee-quaking moment.
For you and me, millennia later,
it’s breathtaking,
soul-shaking,
hope-making news.
That’s because highly favored means “to make graceful, to endow with grace.”
Mary embodied in-the-moment receptiveness to God.
As we welcome God, we too become highly favored, our lives affirmed. Transformed. Made grace-full.
Exclamation points, over time . . .
First used in English in the 15th century, they were considered “notes or signs of admiration,” perhaps from the Latin root for wonderment.
In the Greek word for joy, io, the “i” is written above the “o.” The forerunner, perhaps?
In our day exclamation points proliferate in online communications and may indicate surprise, excitement, anger, and other strong emotions. Peruse Luke (in the NIV version) and you’ll find them accentuating promises, warnings, complaints, interjections, exhortations, chastisements, praises, and pleas.
I counted 36 in all—again, not always where I expected them. Surprisingly, the humble period appears when Jesus cleanses the temple. And when the entire heavenly host sings “Glory to God in the highest.”
To this day, consulting scholars, clergy, and other professionals continue to translate the Bible. They peer into, and pore over, the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts.
They parse grammar. Argue semantics. Assign emphasis.
No matter how we punctuate
this story, older than our world
yet still fresh as the rain,
how radically Love arrives, to upend,
upset, even overturn
our sense of self,
our hopes, and
our flawed expectations.
Where are the living exclamation points appearing in your life this month? Wonderment is contagious. I hope you’ll share one . . .
You might also enjoy the Smithsonian’s take on the exclamation mark
And speaking of strong emotions: Holidays, Saying Yes to Unexpected Gifts!
There’s even a blog about them: Excessive Exclamation!!
“Yes” Photo: John Tyson on Unsplash.
Sublimely beautiful (!)
Pacia, what a gift your words are to me today, thank you, my friend over the mountains and blessings on all you set your hand to in the hours ahead. Love, Laurie
I’ve read essays based on one word, but do not recall EVER reading one based on an exclamation point! Well done, Laurie (as always), cracking open that piece of punctuation and bringing forth worthwhile truth. Mary was more grace-filled than words alone could express; that exclamation point added important emphasis. The more I learn about the young mother of our Savior the more awed I become at her maturity, strength of spirit, and faith. Thank you, Laurie, for the punctuational (Is that a word?!) insight.
Nancy, thanks so much for reading and leaving your impressions. I agree wholeheartedly with your words about Mary’s character and response to grace. Delighted too by your new-minted adjective: punctuational. Happy New Year, friend!
And may 2020 be filled with blessing for you and your family, Laurie! After last year, few deserve it more!
I wish you the same, friend. You two have survived scary and arduous times as well. May God bless you and your family and your work richly!
Sheer pleasure reading your blogs. Fresh, original, insightful, personal and candid. The blog “EXCLAMATION POINTS” is especially well appointed for the wondrous words of grace spoken to Mary, “highly favored.”
Laurie, I admire your commitment to an uncommon manner of unveiling whatever theme you address. Thank you for the devotion necessary to expand so beautifully each topic that arrests you.
Now. About Mary. My current exclamation is this. Yesterday I sung along with Pentatonix, the lyrics to “Mary Did You Know?” I was captivated, pleasingly startled, and warmly moved as a mother myself at one of the questions in particular “…Did you know when you kissed the face of your baby boy, you kissed the face of GOD?” Ponder that; I will be ever pondering that wonder.
Love, Niki
Niki, that song is consistently powerful for me, too, especially the line you highlight above. And yes, it’s definitely food for thought and eternal wonder and contemplation.
Your encouraging words are a balm, fellow wordsmith, thank you. I’m deeply grateful for all the ways you’ve helped me and cheered me on over the years.
May fresh joys brim within you and spill over at all the right moments in all the right places. Love you!
I loved this, Laurie, as, of course, I do all you write!!!!!!!! I’m thinking, laying all conventional editorial advice (orders!!!!!!!!!) aside, that when *God* includes an exclamation point, we’d do well to claim and exclaim it, ourselves!!!!!!!!! And mine? (You asked). I would include my exclamation point (in fact, God has included it for me) to the fact that my precious Mother, at eighty-nine (and a half!!!!!!) has just survived a spinal fusion, which nothing but this horrific surgery would solve her dilemma!!!!!!!!!! And not only has she survived, she is now undergoing rehab and is the star of the gym–well, at least in my eyes she is, knowing all the HORRIFIC PAIN she has endured for two years, increasing beyond belief and tolerance in the last month. So I would say she is the star patient. Moreover, God’s star, pointing to the reality of the Christ child and one day crucified and risen and living Savior, is the One who merits our infinite exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness, we will have all eternity to punctuate our praise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas, dear one!
xoxo
Lynn
PS I once wrote an essay for writers called, “Let God Punctuate Your Life,” and really had fun with it!!!!
Lynn, what a beyond-marvelous Christmas gift—worthy of every “io.” I am delighted for you and your mother and relieved to hear the most acute suffering is behind her now. May this new ease continue. I read your every mark as another expression of “io.”
From rocky years of chronic pain to becoming the octogenarian rock star in rehab to the guiding Star of Bethlehem . . . I always enjoy riding the surge of your verbal riffs. You reveal connections I rejoice in, and you carry me to surprising places. Thank you, friend.
Such a good word in the season of wonderment. Thank you, friend, for bidding me to “seek”. What a gift! 😉
And your “prose” is fit and never flabby.
Your words make me smile, Katherine. I’m now pondering “fit” in its various meanings.
Apt, as in offering a fitting word in due season.
If the Word fits, do it . . .
And I am just now noticing (to my delight) how much my writing efforts resemble the ongoing weekday rigors I experience in circuit training.
Wishing you wonders each day, dear friend.
Ooooh, I love this, Laurie; “If the Word fits, wear it.” Far better than the fits I pitch in rebellious grumbling. Would that I would always and immediately do His will, rather than just think about it!!
I am nodding in complete agreement. And chuckling over the hissy fits we pitch . . .
Oh what joy when the Word gives forth understanding of a new sort where there once was nothing to speak to me. I’m going to call that Perfect. One of the most mysterious words around.
Thank you for pointing to the Wonder with an exclamation point.
O yes, the Word and the hallowed book, both so vibrantly alive, collaring me when I least expect it—such a source of continual wonderment.
You’ve got me thinking about Perfect as “mysterious” now . . .
I read somewhere (recently) that punctuation really took off with the invention of movable type. Prior to that, I surmise one was responsible for reading completely enough to understand context and emphasis, etc. Not surprising, given the limited number of books in circulation. paper was at a premium and space was limited
That is so interesting to me. Thanks, John. I’m glad you told me. I always like learning this kind of thing.
During my (long-ago) study of calligraphy I was amazed to learn that many scribes lettering and/or copying the old manuscripts excluded punctuation as well as the spaces between words (talk about frugal use of precious parchment and vellum and even palimpsests)—all those beautifully rendered letterforms cozied up, cheek-by-jowl. I also recently learned that Hebrew was written without the vowels, the assumption being an educated reader knew which vowels to fill in. I wonder if people fluent in reading Hebrew also like crossword puzzles …
Thank you Laurie again for stirring my soul.
Oh, I’m glad and grateful to read your words. Thank you, Anne.
Your gorgeous card arrived yesterday, and we sang your praises. It’s wonderful to watch the paintings flow from your keen eye and heart and hands . . .
This is SO good.
Thank you.
Bless you, and yours.
Merry Christmas.
Rick, thank you for making time during the countdown to Christmas to read these words and comment.
And thank you for all that you and your people are doing for others.
May you and your loved ones and the ever-widening family of God you tend brim with joy this Christmas.