The "X" factor

Symbolism may be defined as the practice or art of representing things by symbols or investing things with a symbolic meaning or character while symbols may be an object, action, or an idea that represents something other than itself, and often of an abstract nature. We are surrounded all over with symbols because it is imperative to make life easier for us. 

Symbols are found in Poetry, Science, Religion and just anything around us. Black is used to represent evil or death, white for life and purity, red is mostly for blood, passion, danger or immorality. Purple represents royalty, yellow for violence and decay while calm and peacefulness is represented by blue. Rings, mirror, time, money, emotions, letters and numbers are all representations of things that make meaning between two or more people.

However, the alphabet “X” is one of the alphabetical symbols that intrigues me a lot and would remain one of the few symbols out there that would forever make me look out. Perceptually, you can see it as two lines leaning into each other or four strokes joining at the middle. 

Basically and rightly so, my first point of contact with “X” as with most people was while learning the alphabets. Then we met it in Mathematics, which got a lot of us confused because the equation doesn’t fit nor the Cartesian plane, plain enough. Then “X” represented the Cross when we started learning about Jesus Christ. “X” represents crossroads which is often a decision making point and now it represents everything.

“X” written three times represents a rating in movies, meaning hardcore pornography. “X” represents the sizes of dresses, it also means wrong. It means closed, as even depicted on the top-right of every windows we open on our computers. “X” means cancelled or marked out and clearly, you could see that the symbol has so much connotations and denotations.

When “X” is represented in Mathematics, it usually represents the unknown, until it is found by going through some laid down principles and methods which can even be challenged. I said the answer could be challenged because usually, when you work some mathematical equations, you derive at all the objective answers if you know what I mean. So, you even realized that, a group of persons just sat down to accept and use only one or two methods and discarded the other method, which is why, you sometimes arrive at an answer but the marking scheme axes you out.

And now, there is a conspiracy to blind the whole world to desist from mentioning the name “Christ” probably because it’s so powerful and does wonders when mentioned. Christ is already known by so many and He is the poster child of Christianity which is supposed to be the most populous religion in the whole wide world, so why is someone trying to cancel “Christ” out or is it unconscious?

There are so many words in the English language that are so long and yet cannot be abbreviated even though a code could just be foisted on us, which we will accept anyway. Words like “Opportunity’, “affordability” “eventually” and so many more cannot be abbreviated no matter what, so why was it necessary to abbreviate “Christmas” to “X’mas?” where “X” represents what?

They write “Christians” as “X’tians” and the Christians themselves ignorantly bask in like an absent-minded person sways in a hammock. Why are they bent on cancelling the Christ out when it’s actually the keyword? No one cares about the word ‘dependability”, because it does not evoke any passion, yet it is spelt fully.

Dear Reader, In the spirit of Christmas, if you are guilty of writing “X’tians” and X’mas, then, it’s the right time to stop, so that anytime you precede the rest of the words with “Christ”, something should happen, but if it comes across to you as one of those baloney talks, then you might as well start writing Christ as “X”. You don’t have an excuse not to and don’t say, you keep forgetting. It’s a necessity that requires mindfulness to write “Christ” when you have to write it.

Be reminded that the Christmas is not about you; it’s a time to reflect on our relationship with Jesus Christ, whose supposed birthday it is. Have fun as you ponder over the “X-Factor”

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!