Matter vs Palah’

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 [MA-ter]

𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛. something that occupies space.

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏. to be of importance.

"You matter." "He matters." "I matter." I understand the intention behind the phrase but, to my heart, if falls so flat. This chair matters. Because it serves me, and I will be upset (literally) if it breaks. My schedule matters. Because it allows me to accomplish that which I feel is important.

To have the same word used for both people made in the image of God AND inatimate objects seems almost crass.

Too often it seems that the phrase "______ lives matter" has become a scapegoat for caring. It is removed just enough personal investment that the subject becomes a tagline.

Perhaps if our hearts understood 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑎ℎ' then we would appreciate God's handiwork more...

𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵' [pah-LAH]

𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛. to be distinct, marked out, be separated, be distinguished, to be wonderful

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏. to make separate, set apart

We see this word in the context of Psalm 139 where we read, "𝐼 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒. 𝑊𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠; 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙."

Now if THAT were how we as humans view our fellow image-bearers, if we collectively perceived the intrinsic worth and inalienable value of each human being, then this world would see Jesus more clearly.

(𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑎ℎ: 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠 6395)