The Picture and The One Thousand Words

It happened again. I have no idea where today’s ramblings originated, but I am staying on the path.

“A picture is worth a thousand words”, she said.  I’ve heard this expressed more times than I can count.  I understand it to mean that one could talk (or write) for a very long time and never reach the level of comprehension, love, empathy, joy, sorrow, or even hatred that one well-crafted image will convey.

Think about these random pictures. You probably have hundreds of beautiful photographs in your own image library so any of those would do as well.

When you look at each image, imagine that you took the snapshot.  Think about the feelings experienced and what it would take to describe them to someone else.  

More likely than not, we will end up using another phrase explaining, “Well, I guess you would need to have been there.”

It is always interesting to see where common adages originate.  This one, I am reading, evolved before the exact phrase was eventually used by Fred R. Barnard in 1927 “where it is labeled a Chinese proverb”, according to Wikipedia.

Prior to that, a 1913 newspaper ad for Piqua Auto Supply House (Piqua, Ohio) reads, “One Look is Worth a Thousand Words”.  But the earliest version, again according to Wikipedia, places the origin with Henrik Ibsen who said, “A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.”

I think it fascinating how we came to the common-day phrase from something similar but so very different. 

I am also intrigued by how this phrase has morphed into the language of today’s electronic communications.

Since cell phones have become a primary tool for communication, we have been using email and text messages to correspond.  To shorten our fat-fingered typing woes, shortcuts have been created and they too have evolved into something "more".

“Emojis” are so common, there is even a World Emoji Day! I admit to being ignorant of this celebration until writing this article.  I’m quite uninformed as it seems 2021 was the 7th year of this event.

Emojis have also matured in an expanded fashion with the 1987 creation of the animated graphical interchange format (.gif).  Additionally, short videos are spread through our electronic message platforms. One might conclude that our ability to communicate well has been significantly enhanced with these newer tools.

But of course, I’m going to take a different approach.  

I am not advocating for the removal of these little creatures (can I call them creatures?) from our correspondence.  They are fun, they brighten our day with a little humor, and they certainly dress up our text messages with color and frivolity.

But there are times.  Yes, those times!  

We hide behind our new little personifications.  As an example, we might find ourselves using a heart instead of saying, “I love you.”  It might be a great way to quickly convey our feelings – nothing wrong there.  But it might be a way to test the water to see if someone feels the same way without ever the need to say it.  Or even worse, we might not love at all, but it gets us off the hook for a while – we do not have to speak the truth.

We might also use these impersonations in passive-aggressive ways.  Perhaps we are chastising someone but finish the message with a ‘happy face’ emoticon.  We are (with fingers-crossed hope) planting a seed of good humor behind the words written.  If we state the truth, it might end in conflict.  We can avoid this unpleasant interaction with the use of our friend, the smiley face.

I will continue to use emoticons, of course.  This is how communication works today.  But I am making a vow to use them wisely.  I will not hide behind the image but use these ‘partners’ as reflections of truth when there is no time to write a thousand words.  

Matthew 5:37 says, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”  

Another version of this verse explains it this way.  “

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”

Just one more thought, if you please.

Earlier, I quoted Henrik Ibsen's words, “A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed”.

The origin of today’s phrase has nothing to do with pictures, videos, or animated cartoons.  It has nothing to do with words, either. It is not about talking a good talk.  It is not about hiding behind characters or words.  

The phrase refers to deeds, to actions.

If we are guided by loving action, our true self in Christ will be noticed.

If we are guided by non-loving action, well, that too will be noticed.

“A picture is worth a thousand words”, she said.  I’ve heard this expressed more times than I can count.  I understand it to mean that one could talk (or write) for a very long time and never reach the level of comprehension, love, empathy, joy, sorrow, or even hatred that one picture (action) will convey."

John 13:35 reminds us that, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." 

And with the upcoming final words, Microsoft informs me that, including the title, this post contains exactly 1,000 words. Perhaps clarity would have best been served with just one picture. Feel free to let me know. 

😇😎😷🎯❤😁 (Too much? 🤔)