Nowhere Man

Welcome to My Metathesis - Part Deux

He's a real Nowhere Man.

Sitting in his Nowhere Land.

Making all his Nowhere plans

for Nobody.

Anyone who knows me knows I am a Beatles fan.

No, take that back; it's more a borderline obsession. Being a member of a Beatles tribute band for five years, I've become a repository of more useless trivia than you can shake a Rickenbacker at.

Based upon the lyrics of their hit song from 1966 Nowhere Man, I figure John Lennon must have known something about metathesis.

Doesn't have a point of view

Knows not where he's going to

Isn't he a bit like you

and me?

In my last blog I described metathesis as the "nowhere between two somewheres." It's that sometimes chaotic, unforeseen or uncontrollable transition in life that removes or repositions you from what was into something new.

You didn't ask for that tragedy, that catastrophe, that divorce. Life was comfortable, routine and understandable. Suddenly, you're upside down and broken. Nothing makes sense anymore and, even more agonizing, it's beyond your ability to fix. You are a spectator to your own life. You see what's happening, but like a massive tsunami - you're being carried along by a current you have no power to resist. You are not in control.

You're a Nowhere Man.

Nowhere Man please listen,

You don't know what you're missing.

Nowhere Man, the world is

at your command.

The first step out of your metathesis may be as simple as changing the way you see yourself  from "nowhere" to "now HERE." 

This is not where you want to be. Not where you chose to be. Maybe it's not where you should be. It's just where you are for now. You are not NOWHERE. You are only NOW HERE.

Here's the thing; where you are now is not where you'll always be. By definition, metathesis is a temporary state. True; you're in pain now. Fact; you were victimized. Without question; totally unfair. The good news is there is an expiration date on your metathesis. 

Nowhere Man, don't worry.

Take your time, don't hurry.

Leave it all til somebody else

lends you hand.

Next time, I'll give you some thoughts on getting through and making the most of your metathesis.

I'm a real Now Here Man

Patrick Bousum

Welcome to my Metathesis!

"You need to start blogging," he said. "He" being sometime band mate and best-selling indie author of Reunion and Twisted Vengeance, Jeff Bennington.

The blog, he said, is essential if you are going to be successful as an indie (independently published) author. Jeff's advice has been a lifeline as I embark on this journey, this quest to fulfill a lifelong dream. And so, for the first time, I blog.

This is simply another metathesis place for me.

I titled my blog The Metathetical Scribe, first because it fits, and next because I thought it sounded edgy and cool.

It may be that, because I am pastor by profession, I have sort of an inside track on obscure, clever-sounding and, well, cool Greek words. Or maybe I'm just a Bible nerd. Whatever the case, my life has been a series of metathesis places, or points. I'm guessing yours has, too.

There are modern applications of the term metathesis. Both linguistics and chemistry, for example, utilize the word to define phenomena in their individual fields of study. But I like to start at the beginning, and for me that means back to Biblical roots.

I certainly couldn't be confused for a scholar of the ancient Greek language, but I can read the writings of those who are. This is what I have learned and why it's significant to me. Metathesis is a compound Greek word made up of meta - "after" or "between," and thesis - "to put or place, a placing or position." By New Testament definition it means: a removal, change or transformation. It can also be defined as: "a transmutation, change by the abolition of one thing, and the substitution of another." (This according to Greek-Dictionary.net)

To me, a Metathesis Place is a change point in life. Whether it comes by a choice I have made, or did not make. Regardless if the change came by way of crisis and tragedy or by happy surprise and dumb luck.


Metathesis has been described as the "nowhere between two somewheres." That middle ground of transition, uncertainty or even chaos that serves as a portal putting or placing you out of what was into a whole new "is."

When I look back on my life I see the path dotted with the "ebeneezers" (memorials) of events that were, on the whole, unexpected and, in many cases, unwelcome. But they all served to bring me to where I am.

These are my Metathesis Places. My transition points. My doors of former crises that swung open to brand new oases. I'm ready for a new metathesis. How about you?

I have a few more thoughts on this subject. Would you care to read them?