BACK TO SCHOOL

 "I am a Yarigai Logophile”  

As a school Chaplain I work with parents, students and teachers to ensure families that may be finding the back-to-school effort and outlays a little challenging are supported. Starting school or transitioning back to school after the summer holiday break can be stressful for some. Add to that the potential financial pressure on families of getting all the necessary items on the book list, school uniforms, computers, getting routines organized, and things can be a little difficult. For students this may be compounded by social and emotional stresses. Reading the social cues correctly. Saying the right words at the right time to the right people. Not saying anything at the right time. Timetabling. Behaviour expectations. Learning. Homework. Assessments.

At the beginning of my grade 4 school year, I was one of those students whose family were struggling to face the challenge of making the budget work to pay for our schooling necessities. Dad had been off work with an injury and things were tight. I remember needing a dictionary as a required part of our schoolbooks acquisition at the beginning of the school year. I remember going off to school with Dad’s old Webster's dictionary and being told quite obtusely by my teacher that it was the “wrong dictionary.” All the other kids had the correct one. I was the odd one out. I think there were tears. I remember a letter home. Embarrassing stares from my table group. I remember my honest wish to not just fit in, but also have access to the learning tools I needed. I loved words and wanted to get this part of my schooling right.

I love words.

I am sure I have said that before. Many times.

In Primary School I was the kid at school who spent hours of my lunch time sourcing fresh inspiring books in my school library. Particularly, I borrowed every book I could get my hands on about Dinosaurs. Yes. I loved the Palaeontology and the amazing forms these creatures  had. Yet, perhaps more telling I fell in love with their names, their meanings, and where their names came from. I started with the the word “dinosaur” which is from the Greek deinos (terrible) and sauros (lizard) ‘terrible lizards’. Then came words like Tyranosaurus rex  (which is derived from the Greek words tyrannos, meaning "tyrant" and "sauros" (lizard) and the Latin word rex (meaning "king"). I became a junior etymologist (at least about all things dinosaurs).

Getting my first personal dictionary boosted my logophilia.

I was so very excited when Mum bought me that book with the green cover: “ The Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary”. Mum worked extra hours to buy me that new dictionary. What a precious gift. 

By the way, it didn’t fit in my pocket: it was so loaded with beautiful, prepossessing words.

My love of words grew.

A couple of years later, I started year 6 in an entirely different school. My new teacher placed a challenge in front of us to learn a list of hundreds of Latin and Greek roots and suffixes and prefixes. I was an average student academically, but she inspired a passion in me to learn more.

At the end of year 6 (before year 7 began in yet another school) I started to “read” the dictionary. This was at the prompting of my grandfather who was an inspiring word smith and cruciverbalist. I started in “A” and learnt and put into practice all the new words I encountered. I then dove into a 22-volume encyclopedia of animals and began to learn their names (including their Latin names). I was a rabid lexophile. I read every book in our year level reading list. Year 7 I was dux of my new school. I went on to being the first person in my family to go to university.

(I loved words even more. Words seemed to love me. I began to read the bible. I discovered that The WORD loves me and saved me and has a plan and purpose for me in sharing his love and words with others)  

My wife and I were inspired recently with the story in movie form (The Professor and the Madman) of Sir James Murray (lexicographer) who was invited by Oxford University Press to take on the job of capturing all the words then extant in the English-speaking world in all their various shades of meaning. He is known as the first editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. This fueled my back to school/ New Years resolution which was to be more intentional about my reading list (actually finish that pile of books I have waiting to be read) and ignited the other goal which is reflected in my thoughts above: to embrace my love of words.

Sir James Murray in Scriptorium

At our staff personal development at the beginning of this school year our guest relayed some mind-set thoughts with us and challenged us with this question:

“What is high performance in your context? … Discuss with your partner.”

My discussion with my partner (our teacher of Japanese) went something like how I aim to do things that are worthwhile and supporting the efforts of others to discover their purpose and meaning. My teacher friend grew excited as she explained that there is a special word in Japanese that expressed my sentiment. “Yarigai” she said “You are talking about Yarigai: it means something worth doing especially when you are helping someone else, you are helping yourself too.”

やり甲斐 = Yarigai

 

So allow me to pose that question to you :

“What is high performance in your context as a writer?”

For me it is continuing to grow in my writing prowess and embrace my love of words to help others fall in love with narratives that empower, motivate, inspire, and mobilize them.  

What is Yarigai for you?  What is your back-to-school resolution?

Perhaps for you - like me - it is to fall in love with words again. I plan to go “back to school”, dust off my old dictionary and start reading it again. Noting the words I need to learn. Finding out what they mean. I will put these words into action by utilizing them creatively, and helping to inspire others in their worthwhile living.

Shane Brigg - "I love words"

In for the long haul

 

I began my writing journey in earnest almost twenty years ago now. Back then, if you had told me I would have ten books published by 2024, I would not have believed you. I thought I had one novel burning inside me, but that turned out to be seven in the end. I also remember declaring back then that I could never see myself writing non-fiction. Yet, just last week, my third non-fiction book, Swansong, was released.

Some have asked me why – and how – I keep going with all my writing and speaking. I usually respond by saying that I still feel I have things to say that I hope will encourage and draw others closer to God. Also, I still enjoy both – so why stop? As to the ‘how’ question, I can honestly say I would not still be writing if it were not for God’s guidance and strengthening over the years through the words of Scripture, through others and directly into my spirit. While I did not know I would still be writing all these years later, God knew and has constantly given me the impetus to keep going and the opportunities to be published.

I remember with gratitude how, when I was struggling to find a traditional publisher for my first novel, a young mum in a group I was part of prayed earnestly that my novel would indeed see the light of day. Later, she told me she thought she had seen a new Christian publisher advertised in a magazine at her mother’s place. She promised to email me the relevant information and I thanked her – but, in my heart, I was sure she would forget. A few days later, however, her email arrived – and, eventually, this was the publisher who released my first manuscript.

Fast forward to around eighteen years later when I was again looking for a publisher, this time for my third non-fiction book, Swansong. In October 2022 at the Omega Christian Writers’ Conference in Kingscliff, at what I believe was God’s prompting, I booked a Zoom interview with a representative of an overseas non-fiction publisher, Authentic Media UK. A wonderful online meeting ensued – and, soon after, I was offered a contract with Authentic.

When I started my writing journey, I did not fully believe those who told me writing is a ‘long haul’ undertaking. Yet, they were right. After all, it can take months or years for one book to emerge – and it can take even longer to build up any significant body of writing and gain a wide readership. But God of course knows that – and God also knows what shape our writing journeys will take. Perhaps God has just one book for you to write – and that is absolutely fine. But perhaps God wants you in for the long haul too and has given you many ideas that are waiting to see the light of day. In this case, I want to encourage you to keep trusting and walking with God, who is more than able to strengthen and guide and bring the right publishing opportunities your way. Our role is to listen, to obey, to persevere and to give of our best, whatever shape our writing journey may take.

May God enable us all to do exactly that in 2024.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of seven published novels and three non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’,  ‘Becoming Me’ and ‘Swansong’.. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.