Cliché

Cliché: An expression so often used that its original power has been drained away.

I think that rather often, I dismiss good advice or wisdom because it has become cliché. Each of us has our own particular set of clichés unique to our perspective and situations. For example, having grown up in the church many amazing verses no longer hit me with impact because I have heard them so many times. I can ignore them, because, hey, they're old news. They've become cliché. But then, why do things become cliché? They are so often used for a reason! While not every cliché is good advice, the fact that it is cliché is not reason enough to dismiss it. I think it would be a great personal injustice to ignore an idea just because it gained widespread acclaim. There's this idea in society that we have to try so desperately to set ourselves apart that if something has been done before or comes from someone else it is no longer valid. Don't get me wrong, I'm a definite proponent of originality and dreaming (that is a topic many a blog will arise from I'm sure), but by falling in that trap we ignore the ideas and wisdom of people who are older, and yes often smarter. It's insecurity. We have to prove ourselves to ourselves that we really are as original and wonderful as we hope. Secure people are Ok with wisdom coming from others. You know how people who don't want negative attention point fingers at others in the hopes that they can divert the bad from themselves? People who know who they are don't do that. They don't sweat the trivial because they know who they are so why bother with the junk? But alas, I have gone on tangent.

It's sad to me that we have so haphazardly thrown around pearls of wisdom to be trampled upon. We have not respected them. And by abusing something that could be great we steal the power from it. We've built up an immunity to wisdom, and therefore God has to do that much more to get our attention. We can't base the validity of something on other's perception or misuse. We need to look at the meat of it and the source of it. Many quotes are marvelous and inspiring but they have been adopted into the everyday lexicon of mundane rhetoric, so that we no longer hear the original message.

Some verses that should absolutely knock us flat that we now dismiss:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Let's face it, we've all heard it, we all know the story. Do we care? Eventually we just flippantly refer to it in passing without reverence without caring.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

These contain amazing promises! But to the church frequenter, they are yesterday’s news.
Don't let constant exposure dull your sensitivity!

We try to dull the pain. We desensitize ourselves on purpose. We want to protect ourselves, but as we block the pain we block the fullness of joy. We want that control and to understand it on our own. By being so together and in control, we've lost our ability to be amazed, because we know things powerful enough to amaze us are powerful enough to devastate us. Walking with God does not stop at salvation. God is constantly revealing Himself through His Word. There's more to God and life than words on page. Those Words contain power! But we have become so accustom to them, they no longer charge or inspire.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

We need to be refreshed. To look at something from a fresh perspective.

Consider the following:
A diamond or precious gem is highly valued and praised, in all its multifaceted wonder. If you look at a diamond from a different angle the picture changes, but the diamond doesn't. That's what truth is like. That's what God is like. We're used to the view from where we are, but when we see something new it shakes us. We feel cheated, that God isn't who He said He was, but He didn't change-we did. And we got to see more of His majesty.

What we need are fresh renewed eyes. The treasure was there all along but over time we took it for granted. What was once a fascinating novelty we greatly prized is now a cheesy yard sale item. It makes me mad that so much is disregarded on account of cliché. Can we judge something based on its content rather than the extent to which it used?

You see, in dismissing the phrase, we dismiss the idea behind it. Once again we've judged a book by its cover.

My prayer is that we get a refreshing and renewing of our minds to appreciate those ideas, beliefs, people, and blessings so we can experience the full impact.