[Erk] Translation required.

[dancefloorlandmine]

I'm just working through a newsletter from a Pastoral Care Association, and so far have been able to overlook the assorted random uses of commas and the like. However, this sentence, in a section on "20 ways to develop self-esteem" has me utterly stumped - translations will be gratefully accepted (the remainder of the list seems fairly reasonable¹, but this one is a bit challenging - it appears to be the product of a word randomizer):

4. Don't dwell on the past - press towards the make for the prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus.
¹ Although this was a little challenging: "Treat yourself special." For gods' sake, some grammar, please ...

Comments

[blue-condition.livejournal.com]

I think it's a Mark E Smith lyric.

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

As in York's legendary goth songster (or do I have the wrong Mark Smith in mind)? Couldn't be - not enough references to Poe.

[blue-condition.livejournal.com]

nah, grumpy Mancunian and mainman of the Fall!

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Oh, that one. Yeah, I see what you mean!

[clotilde.livejournal.com]

Possibly "Don't dwell on the past - press towards the future and make for the prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus"

I'm assuming that the last bit makes sense to those who are Christianly inclined.

[flick.livejournal.com]

Or maybe "press towards and make for the prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus"?

[clotilde.livejournal.com]

that's a good suggestion.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Nope, that's just gibberish.

I'd remove the 'press towards the' completely, but I've no idea what they're aiming for in the 'high calling to God in Jesus' bit; maybe these are technical terms in their belief system?

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

[grin] I'm not responsible for their sub-editing. Trying to restrain my wincing through the first paragraph of the first page was bad enough, as commas appeared to be used as random decoration, or possibly there is a secret code to prevent the Warsaw Pact finding out where the sandwiches are hidden.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Beat them around the head with a copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves.

[nisaba.livejournal.com]

Looks like they typing "press towards the prize of the...", but decided to change "press towards the" to "make for the", but forgot to delete the first three words.

I think they want to say, "don't dwell on the past - aim for the high calling of god in jesus christ"

Which even when grammatically correct makes no sense to me, but that's more a reflection of my religious beliefs :)

[nisaba.livejournal.com]

Actually, "towards" might be a typo for "forwards"... just to really confuse things :)

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

[grin] Thanks for that!

[vatine]

They what? Aaaah! (press towards (the make for the prize) of (the high Calling...)". That almost makes sense.

[coven.livejournal.com]

put it on babelfish and hit `reverse process´? :)

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

I have a nasty suspicion that might just crash babelfish!

the higher calling

[fire-kitten.livejournal.com]

make for the prize that is the higher calling of God and Jesus Christ.

[littleangel-103.livejournal.com]

4. Don't dwell on the past - press towards the make for the prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus.

OK using my cryptic skills I think there is a word missing in this sentence. maybe it should be "press towards the *goal of* making for the prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus".

Alternatively they have missed out a / - as in "press towards / make for the prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus".

Or they are illiterate peasants and need to be struck several times with grammatical information (see above suggestion about "Eats, Shoots and Leaves"). (And I know I am only being *slightly* hypocritical here - I remember the pained expressions on your face as you proof-read my PhD, closely followed by confusion and a wearying sense of incomprehension) ;-) *mwah*

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

I thought it meant '...- focus on the creative to gain the prize...' but on the whole the other interpretations make more sense...

For many people the belief that they are called by God to do whatever they're doing promotes positive self-esteem. ("I'm on a mission from God to clean this floor. And it's OK that it'll get muddy again in 5 minutes, because then I can clean it again and serve God's purpose.") Personally I find it just makes it even more depressing when you screw up.