“How Important Is ‘Really Important’”

How many times have you had someone ask, “Do you have a minute, I have something really important to tell you?” Or maybe someone stated, “This isn’t a laughing matter, it’s really important?”

It’s those two words “really important” embedded in my subconscious that woke me from a deep sleep last night. I don’t know why it did so but it woke me enough to lay there and ponder the meaning and the reason someone might use it.

The word “important” is defined as “mattering much; entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice; of much or great significance or consequence” (as in an important event in world history). When coupled with the word “real or really”, the importance seems to take on an added dimension of significance.

Maybe that’s why it escaped from my subconscious to my cognizance. I remembered reading a headline this week, “Israeli leaders hint meeting with Obama was really important”. This was in reference of an unscheduled visit with President Obama in Washington D.C. by Israeli PM Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The one-hour-and-forty-minute discussion was accompanied by an unusual news blackout, as the standard photo op and press availability were not held. Instead a brief statement put out by the White House after the Monday evening meeting.

Now secrecy only begets suspicion as to what is not being said. Interestingly, the Israeli prime minister broadly hinted that the “importance of the visit will become clear in the future.” Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak also emphasized the great importance of the US meetings stating, “The visit of myself and Prime Minister Netanyahu to Washington and the White House was very important” reiterating that Israel's security, “once again became clear.”

So in summary: this important meeting refers to an important future event (how future remains to be seen) that involves the importance of Israel’s security.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Now that’s a “really important” future event that is closer than we think!