Merriam Websters “Word of the Day” this day is “enthralled” – “to hold the attention of someone by being very exciting, interesting, or beautiful,” or in other words, “to charm.” It is often used in its past participle form, as in “I was enthralled by the beauty of the landscape.” While one hopes that you are enthralled by the contents of this blog, you might be less enthralled by the word’s etymology. The history of enthrall appeals far less than the word as we use it today might suggest. In Middle English, enthrallen meant “to deprive of privileges; to put in bondage.” Thrall then, as now, referred to bondage or slavery. Along this sense an early figurative use of enthrall appeared in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.”

But languages shifts and morphs. The sense of mental or moral control is not part of today’s lexicon. More often, the word simply suggests a state of being generally captivated or delighted by some particular thing.

I hope that this day you are enthralled by the beauty and grace of God that abounds in your life.