APPRECIATION

I have a fascination for words and their meanings. Some very potent words are seldom used but carry great meaning and implications. Other words are used frequently but have lost the full scope of their meaning because we don’t give them a second thought. We become satisfied with an incomplete understanding of what they convey.

When I prepare for any sermon or presentation, I often consult the dictionary to gain an understanding of a specific word in order to embrace the full scope of its meaning. I have an excellent resource in my old college dictionary that always seems to provide a wider scope for explaining the meaning of words in greater depth than some other resources.

Years ago, investigating the meaning of the word “appreciation” I initially found the following:
“the act of estimating the qualities of things and giving them their proper value”

I found myself dissatisfied with this meaning so I resorted to my old college dictionary. There I found this:
“the exercise of wise judgment, delicate perception, and keen insight in realizing the worth of something”

I began to dissect this meaning as the implication of the description fascinated me. As I investigated each component I found that some additions were apropos. After sometime of deliberation I settled on the following:
“the exercise of wise judgment, delicate perception, keen insight and sensitive awareness in realizing the worth or value of something or someone”

I then began to further my study by analyzing each word or phrase. I found the following to be true and worthwhile in understanding what appreciation really means.

Exercise is the putting forth of effort by me for my benefit. Exercise requires deliberate action on my part often requiring sacrifice and painful exertion to accomplish the task for which it is rendered.

Wise judgment is my evaluation that employs my cache of knowledge. When I exercise wise judgment, I engage my knowledge of the relevant subject under study, and add to it my comprehension of that subject and complete it with my understanding of its implications. I am then positioned to make a valid judgment.

Delicate perception is the view I have when my vision is based on my observation of the finer points. Here, I look not at the big picture, but rather focus deliberately on the finest details of my subject. I question what I see with the intention of looking deeper to find even greater detail. This allows me to find treasures that the casual observer may overlook.

Keen insight implies that the sharpness of my investigation is cutting deep and looking under the surface beyond the obvious. With the thought that nothing is ever what it appears to be, keen insight instigates the deeper exploration below the visible surface. It provides an understanding of what is at work creating what is seen in the open.

Sensitive awareness is the faculty to use all my senses to be aware, touched and moved. With this talent, I am equipped to see the peripherals that enhance or detract from the subject under consideration and make adjustments to my perspective appropriately.

Realizing the worth or value is making the treasure real to me. When the four exercises above are completed and fully engaged, worth and values are not merely known but they are real and possessed.

Something or someone indicates that appreciation applies to material things and people. When we consider this expansion to people we can understand a spiritual component to appreciation’s meaning. The crowning of appreciation then is when we truly appreciate our God and all the goodness that flows from Him to me.

The Turning Point
Since this in depth understanding of appreciation became clear to me, I found myself finding deep appreciation for the things I have and the people in my life. These truly have become greater in value and worth than ever before. A fascinating result of continued conscious and deliberate exercise of appreciation’s four sources, the more we value what we have in our possession.

COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER