Words of the Year
The “Word of the Year” varies depending on the dictionary, so there’s more than one “winner.” Each dictionary chooses a word that reflects the year’s significant cultural, social, or political trends. Here are the 2024 winners.
- Polarization (Merriam-Webster): division into two sharply distinct opposites
- Demure (Dictionary.com): characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved
- Manifest (Cambridge Dictionary): to show something clearly, through signs or actions
- Brain Rot (Oxford University Press): something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration
What do these words tell us about the trends marking our contemporary culture?
- Polarization: No surprise here. Our culture is divided in almost every way.
- Demure: While surprising based on its meaning, it helps to understand that the word evolved last year on social media to indicate a more refined, sophisticated demeanor (e.g., “very demure, very mindful”).
- Manifest: With a modern twist, this refers to using methods such as visualization and affirmation to imagine achieving something you want. It’s often seen as a hack or shortcut to getting what you want in life.
- Brain Rot: It’s a term now often used to acknowledge the mental deterioration as a result of excessive consumption of low-quality online content.
Our contemporary culture trends toward extremes and low-quality input. It recognizes awareness but not necessarily substance and values visualization for attracting positive outcomes. These 2024 words of the year have captured the trend toward shallow thinking and results without substance. They show the need for refinement in and deepening of the practice and quality of our thinking.
When I consider how my life might reflect these words, I realize that I need wisdom to keep myself from extreme thinking that harms my relationships and consider how others might view what I say and do. I also need to not let shortcuts become how I operate and to regularly evaluate what I’m letting influence my thinking.
Seeing how these words and the concepts they represent exist in my own life is important for living a set-apart life. This reflection and self-evaluation have led me to realize that as much as I had determined to keep my culture from influencing me in 2024, it still did far more than I knew was happening.
Seeking Wisdom
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” (Proverbs 2:1-11)
As I reflect on my thinking compared to cultural trends in thinking, I realize how much I need biblical wisdom both for the situations and experiences in my life but also as a whole-life perspective. Pulling from Proverbs 2, I am asking myself some questions to help me think about my thinking and to make sure it’s founded on God and not culture.
- Am I calling out (verbalizing) my desire for insight?
- What about crying out for understanding?
- Do I pursue insight and understanding like I would silver or hidden treasure?
I see indications of being out of alignment and heading toward bigger issues. I see that while I do seek wisdom from God as a guide toward success, I don’t always allow it to protect me from cultural trends.
Purposing to tune into or turn my ear toward wisdom, apply myself to understanding, and call out for insight, Proverbs says, will lead me to understand the fear of the Lord. With an attitude of humility and submission, I can see and acknowledge my limitations in light of his limitlessness. Trusting in his goodness leads me to wisdom, success, and protection within a culture that too easily leads me down the wrong paths.
Reflection: How is culture pulling you away from biblical wisdom? What can you do to tune back into the wisdom that God offers? Feel free to share in the comments below or to contact me if you prefer a private discussion on these topics.
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