From My Perspective - - -

During one’s life, there are times when one will hear the question asked: “What’s up?” There are sometimes trite answers given, such as: The sky is up; or The price of Gasoline is up; or Inflation is so bad that even the price of duck-down is up; etc.” The lingering question is – what exactly is meant by “up” when we use the term so frequently?It is said: “UP - This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is ‘UP.’ It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].”

In June 1994, someone wrote to Dear Abby and asked the following: “…Some time ago, you published an item on the word "up"-how frequently it is used, and how comical it sometimes sounds. Will you please publish it again?”One can find similar posts to her answer, She posted:"We've got a two-letter word we use constantly that may have more meanings than any other. The word is UP. It is easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or toward the top of a list. But when we waken, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? And why are participants said to speak UP? Why are officers UP for election? And why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? The little word is really not needed, but we use it anyway. We brighten UP a room, light UP a cigar, polish UP the silver, lock UP the house and fix UP the old car. At other times, it has special meanings. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, think UP excuses and get tied UP in traffic. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special. It may be confusing, but a drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, and close it UP in the evening. We seem to be all mixed UP about UP. In order to be UP on the proper use of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In one desk-sized dictionary, UP takes UP half a column; and the listed definitions add UP to about 40. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways in which UP is used. It may take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a thousand."

The way one uses our language can cause some misunderstanding – We refer to some people as being “Uppity” whereas we say other people are “Down to Earth”. The “Uppity” person is seen as one who considered himself/herself as being superior to others, whereas “Down to Earth” generally means (a) a normal…easy to get along with person, or (b) a “gutter-snipe” who is viewed as a lower-class type individual (not too far removed from the “white Trash” designation). In the physical realm, most people know what is meant when they use the word “up” or “down” (or use some other directional term). When the spiritual realm is being considered, Heaven is usually seen as being “Up” (the future home of the Saved) whereas Hell is usually viewed as being “Down” (the place reserved for the Devil and the Lost)!

If the spiritual approach is to be meaningful, How should one put into practice the basic truth that Heaven is the dwelling-place of God and the final-destination for those who are “saved.”? A basic commitment must include: Psalm 121:1-2,7-8  - “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth…The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”  Isaiah 40:25-31 (Selected) - "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens…Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Look Up to The Lord and be renewed in strength for the journey. Consider these things with me.