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| Word of the Year |
The moment has finally come. The judges’ decision is in.
The envelope please.
Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year for 2012 is …
OMNISHAMBLES!
I realize this is really a British thing, but the template sure does overlay the US scene very nicely.
Omnishambles is defined as “a situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, characterized by a string of blunders and miscalculations.” In short, it’s a first-class mess!
Each year the Oxford University Press tracks how the English language is changing and chooses a word that reflects the personality of the year. The word was coined by writers of the dark political comedy “The Thick of It,” which takes place in the halls of British government.
To be fair, omnishambles wouldn’t merely overlay the American landscape, but would describe many, many places around our world.
Things are clearly a mess—near and far. Consider…
▪ Legislative gridlock. Most think this is an example of omnishambles. I don’t. I’m just including it for the fun of it. Were it not for our occasional legislative gridlock, I assure you, our omnishambles would be far greater than it is. It’s when they agree that I really worry.
▪ Fiscal Cliff. This one is an omnishambles. However, bear in mind that whether we get a Grand Bargain that is exactly what the Democrats want or exactly what the Republicans want it will barely make a dent in a deficit created by a government that is addicted to selling (and a people who are addicted to buying) $10 worth of services for $6. You don’t make up for that in volume.
▪ Civil War in Syria
▪ A nuclear-armed Iran.
▪ World-wide terrorism threats.
▪ And how else to explain the fact that Honey Boo Boo is a star?
You got it—Omnishambles!
But the truth is, the world has always been an omnishambles.
Start in the garden and wend your way through the Scriptures all the way to the end. In the midst of the mess men and women have made of things, you’ll see the thread of God’s redemptive activity.
Paul said it like this, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rm5:8). Even while, and even though, we’d made an omnishambles of everything, Christ willingly paid our sin debt to a holy God.
The conclusion of it all is this. God will bring order to our fallen world—eventually. But he can bring order to your fallen world—today.
