A sassy little conjunction with a glorious backside!
In 1923 the Pan-American Conference convened in Santiago, Chile. The world watched in earnest; tensions were high; Argentina, Brazil and Chile were in an arms race, and posturing for war.
U.S. Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes was viewed by many nations as the only mediator who could ease tensions. He would have to be very clear on the various parties and their positions—especially tricky for an English speaking man, as most of the dialogue would be in Portuguese and Spanish, coming to him through translators.
Hughes, it is said, gave these instructions to his translators:
“While a running translation is ample for my purposes, you must take great care to give me each and every word after any speaker says ‘but.’”
Wise man. The words that follow but in conversation are often of the utmost importance. The same is true where the written word is concerned; the same is true of your Bible.
Reading, interpreting, and applying passages in your Bible can be imposing.
Consider the word but for a moment. Not very imposing, is it? It’s a little three-letter conjunction you use every day in virtually every conversation. “Thank you, but” is the polite rejection of an offer. “I’m sorry, but” may cause you to question the authenticity of an apology. What is said after the but (the but’s backside, in other words) brings clarity.
A lifetime of reading the Bible, an undergraduate and two graduate degrees in Bible, decades of sermons and lessons, and here’s the best piece of advice I can offer you on reading your Bible:
Wherever you come across this little 3-letter conjunction but, highlight it, star it, underline it … and consider what’s said next with great anticipation because God’s got a lesson for you.
You should like big buts. You should share big buts with others.
Big Buts of the Bible 