In grammar, an ellipsis is the intentional omission of a word or sentence, done either for emphasis or because the repetition of the word(s) would be redundant. A witty example of this can be found in an apocryphal story about a reporter who needed to know the age of the movie star Cary Grant. So he sent him the following brief telegraph: “How old Cary Grant?” To which the actor replied, “Old Cary Grant fine. How you?” The omitted verb may have saved the reporter a nickel, but the snappy comeback is priceless.
Leaving out the verb in the question above is an example of an ellipsis. In writing, such omissions are marked by a series of three dots, like this … Sometimes, though, an ellipsis is found at the end of a sentence, when the speaker’s voice trails off and some final thoughts are left unspoken. The singer Judy Collins has written autobiographical books describing her career, her struggles with addiction, and family tragedies. At one point she was blunt in her remarks, saying “Each day I chose not to drink. And I chose not to take my own life.” If I were in a room with her and heard her say that, I would want to hear more–for Judy to break the silence, the ellipsis, at the end of her statements. I’d ask her to finish the sentence: “Each day I chose not to drink and not take my own life because…”
In the ellipsis, in the space marked by three little dots, faith resides. It is there that people finish their sentences and say why they choose not to drink, why they work so hard every day, why they are hopeful for tomorrow. It is there that you and I say out loud to our children or our friends what are the spiritual foundations upon which we stand. These need not be dramatic statements. They may only be mini statements of faith: I do this, because I believe this world is the Lord’s and we’re here to take care of it. I do this, because I believe that love is stronger than hate, and Christ’s Easter resurrection gives me hope for a brighter future. I do this, because I trust that God is in control, not me, and God’s grace will hold me up when all else fails. I do this, because . . .
In many of our conversations, we are not bold enough to finish those sentences, to complete what the silence of the ellipsis is meant to leave unspoken. Which is why the church wisely moves from the Christmas season into Lent. These forty days prior to Easter are times for self-reflection; they are opportunities to ask “What do I truly value in this life? What is God’s spirit urging me to do (or stop doing)? Where is hope seeking to be born in my own life?”
Is there an unfinished question waiting to be spoken in your life? Is there an ellipsis waiting to be fleshed out by words and deeds in one of your relationships? One place to start is the hymn that goes like this: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. That is all that needs to be said, because…