I enjoy words.
Mottos are most charming. Especially the Latin ones assigned to places like states or schools.
Kansas, the last state where I lived before moving back to North Carolina, has a particularly poetic motto.
The human story compressed and romanticized into four Latin words.
It means, “To the stars through difficulties.”
Imagine the weatherbeaten Kansan crying out across the dry expanse of the late winter’s field, “Ad astra per aspera! Ad astra per aspera!”
Yes, I am fond of the Kansas motto.
Missouri, the state where this blog was born, has a very practical motto. Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto. Written just like that with the first letter of every word capitalized. Translated, “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”
Did you hear the gavel drop at the end? Who needs an exclamation point when the staccato rhythm of the phrase declares itself unquestionable?
Missouri is, after all, the Show Me State.
Before Missouri, I lived in Illinois where the motto is simply, “State sovereignty, national union.” No time for flourish or verbs when there’s snow to shovel, a country to feed, and an industrial powerhouse to build.
Plain, unembellished English will suffice.
Of course Chicago, the city where I lived in Illinois, has its own Latin motto. Urbs in Horto, meaning “City in a Garden.”
While millions of lush corn and soybean acres perennially populate the rest of the state just steps outside the greater metro area, the Chicago Historical Society says the garden in Chicago’s motto refers to its own city parks.
Go figure.
Before Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, I lived many yesterdays in North Carolina as a girl, a young woman, and a newlywed.
Our motto reads like a wine label. Esse quam videri.
Our translation channels Shakespeare. “To be rather than to seem.”
Bravely, it begs the question, “Who are you?”
“Who will you be?”
“Are you the same inside as you seem to be on the outside?”
In the state I’m in, I’m not sure how to answer. Here, I trudge through memories thick as mud. The days fly in my face like the incessant Wichita wind. Worse come the life-altering changes that are unexpected, yet inevitable all at once.
But here I cope. I pick up to try again. To push through sadness. To get back to work. I remember the energy in the pace. Is it still there?
I pose John Calvin’s statement as a question, post tenebras lux?
“After darkness, light?”
Only one way to find out.
* * *
…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 NIV
Now for our song. Funny, I thought the words were, “Try to live up to the state I’m in,” but the lyrics say otherwise. Still it fits: Air I Breathe by Mat Kearney.
Who are you and what’s your motto?
I have to admit, I didn’t even realize states had mottos. As a lover of words myself, I had to look up my states…
I currently live in California, which is, “Eureka!” Probably in reference to finding gold. I wouldn’t say this is my current state. Not even close. Like the opposite, really.
My birth state, Colorado, is “Nil sine Numine” (Nothing without the Deity). I do love this and it’s a bit closer to my mindset these days, but that’s giving myself way too much credit. This is perfect to me though because my thoughts of my dad and the music that brings Colorado to mind does bring me closer to God.
As a child, I lived in New Jersey. “Liberty and Prosperity.” I do love this, too.
Thanks for teaching me something and making me think. May you be bathed in light as you journey toward a loving, propsperous state of mind.
The Colorado motto is one of my favorites. I’ve read it translated “Nothing Without Providence,” I think. Thank you for sharing and extending the beautiful wish to end your comment. I feel like I should say “Namaste!”
So funny–I was just using the Kansas state motto (which I didn’t know was their state motto until now) for a Latin mash-up suggestion for a branding project I’m working on (my name suggestion, “Adastra,” was sadly rejected). And I have a cool calligraphy version of the “Esse quam videri” quote on my mirror, hand-lettered by my 16-year-old a few months back after she read it in the book, “The Night Circus” (I recommend it as well). Our minds are clearly in sync right now and more to the point, I am thrilled to read a new post from you! Welcome back!
Thanks, Libby! We are well-matched indeed. Glad to be “connected” with you again!
I like the Philippians verse…. it seems to fit this season of my life. Thanks for the reminder Aimee.
Yes, right there with you. Like the “carry on” part in “keep calm and carry on,” “continue” seems to be the key word for me in the verse at this time.
Great to see you back at writing.
Thank you!