"Savage or SaLvage"
January 2000 - By Jeny Covill

Just today I was thinking on the lies we are told when we are young, how they still affect our life ... years later.   In my personal life, one of the exercises for healing is to find the source/ beginning of a lie, expose it for what it is, and replace it with truth.  Most times these things are beliefs we have accepted since we are very young, and they affect our self worth or self esteem.  The devil delights to see that we continue to believe these lies as we attempt to work out our salvation.  It is no wonder we struggle so hard sometimes.

One morning it jumped in my head about the word 'savage'.  For many of us, it is a 'label' that has been put on our heart or mind, much like the words 'lazy', 'bad', 'never good enough' or 'invisible' have been tattooed on my life.   It's not some pretty little embroidered name tag with flowers and paisleys.  It is like someone carving it into your flesh and it leaving a huge wound.  Only, through time, it just becomes part of you.

Anyway, I was thinking about this word 'savage' and it suddenly hit me that it is very close to the word 'saLvage'.  Just add an 'l' and you've completely transformed the word.  Well, it isn't that easy to remove hurt. Too bad.  Wish it was.  However, if we can go back to the source and the beginning when that word 'savage' was first cut into our hearts and minds, and imagine adding the letter to transform it to 'salvage' or 'salvaged' we can begin the healing exercises of finding the lie, exposing the lie and replacing the lie with truth.

You see, the word  ' saLvage' means:  "the act of saving a ship or its cargo from wreck or capture by an enemy;  the saving of anything from fire or danger;  property, so saved;  an allowance or compensation given those who voluntarily saved a ship or its cargo.  Salvaged:  to save from shipwreck or fire."

Wow.  Isn't this what Christ did for us?  He saved us ... He salvaged us! Praise the Lord.  We are no longer 'savages', but we are Christ's precious cargo saved from capture, fire, danger and shipwreck - so to speak.  I know this doesn't heal and I hope that people are not offended by thinking I might be making light of the horrendous implication of such a word and its effect on people.  I looked 'savage' up in the dictionary, and I find nothing redeeming or worth repeating.  ( I don't know about you, but as a descendant of the Powhatan people and Pocahontas, I was greatly offended by Disney's Pocahontas and that horrible 'savages' song!!!  Not only did it lack taste and sensitivity toward all First Nations people, in the context of the movie, it was sung about my people!)  Anyway, I hope that in some small way, if one could change this ugly word into a reflection of how we are saved (salvaged) by Christ's unmerited love and favor, it will help.

With the Father's Love
Jeny Covill
January 2002

PS:  Salvation:  "The act of saving, preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity;  Theologically, the redemption of man from the bondage and penalty of sin, redemption."  Praise the Lord, we are Christ's 'salvage'  ... His property, so saved.  We are his compensation for His death on the cross.