Today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Shivers me timbers! Today be the day that all landlubbers and me hearties join in and talk like pirates. A few pointers are all that’s needed before you be talking like a swashbucklin’ jack. So here you be:

First off, double up on all your adjectives. Pirates never speak of a big ship—it’s always a “great, grand ship.” It’s not a pretty girl—it’s a fine beauty of a lass. And remember, a pirate is never content to just say never. No, it’s “no nay ne’er!”

Next, all me hearties have to drop their g’s when speakin’. Now you’ll get words like rowin’, sailin’, fightin’. Drop your v’s (as in ne’er, e’er and o’er). Final lesson. No nay ne’er say, “I am” or “You are.” Any sailor worth his or her weight in doubloons of gold says “I be” or “you be.” Now put it all together, and mateys, you be fine swashbucklin’, dashin’ buccaneers. No swabbies around here, no nay ne’er!

Now there’s not much use for talking like a pirate (other than to impress your mateys!), but if you want to communicate with other who are different from you, it does help to speak their language. That doesn’t just mean knowing how they talk, but also what their interests are and what they like.

The apostle Paul discovered this as he traveled to different places to share the gospel. Wherever he went he did his best to fit in with those around him and speak their language.

That meant that Paul did what was best for those around him, not just what pleased him. That’s a good lesson to follow when we want to talk to our friends at school about Jesus. Are they into music? Then invite them to a Christian rock concert. They like sports? Speak their language, get on the team, and show them what Jesus is all about.

Arrrrrr!

That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:33).

To Do

Go ahead. Talk like a pirate today. Here’s some words you may need to know: ahoy (hey!); aye (yes); matey (friend or shipmate); yo-ho-ho (a good pirate laugh).

Also on this day

1881—James A. Garfield died of wounds from an assassin. The 20^th president had lived for 11 weeks after being shot.

1982—Scott Fahlman became the first person to use : – ) in an online message.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.