The Words of Life

I've been struggling to read through Emerson's "The American Scholar" speech prepared for Cambridge undergrad members of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. I do not know what his relationship with God is now, but he makes many references to the innovative and creative qualities of the Creator manifested in humanity (namely, Man as a whole society). One of his many references hit me like a ton of bricks.

Action is with the scholar subordinate, but it is essential. Without it,
he is not yet man. Without it, thought can never ripen into truth. Whilst the
world hangs before the eye as a cloud of beauty, we cannot even see its beauty.
Inaction is cowardice, but there can be no scholar without the heroic mind. The
preamble of thought, the transition through which it passes from the
unconscious to the conscious, is action. Only so much do I know, as I have

lived. Instantly we know whose words are loaded with life, and whose not.

(Emerson, 5)

Emerson makes the comment that "Instantly we know whose words are loaded with life, and whose not," in reference to his/her previous comments that said speakers words were either reinforced or negated by his/her actions.

How true that Jesus should be the origin of this thought!

^"60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
   ⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” " (John 6:60-69)

"it" in verse 60 refers to Jesus' teaching that His body is the bread of life. The King has truly put life into his words, and Emerson would agree with the Apostle Peter that Jesus's words were "loaded with life," in obedience in life and death. He promised victory, at his own expense. He cared for the wounded. He mends broken hearts and broken bones and broken homes. He was a friend of sinners. He lashed the Temple into submission, like the Boss He is. He loved the unloveables. He reached out to the broken, to the contrite of heart. He forgives sins.