I’ve always been a details person…
Maybe this is something that my beautiful mom taught me growing up. She just loves details and I admire that about her.
Here’s the thing… God also sees my love for details. I look out into the world and see random little aspects of his creations and that’s one way he speaks to me!I also enjoy pondering on deep ideas that don’t come up in “normal” everyday conversations… Such as the idea of languages and how we as humans interact with one another.
God showed me something outstanding to through Leo, my ministry host in Swaziland. Now, let me just describe him a little… Even though words won’t do his true personality any justice. He’s a very tall Dutch man with an awesome accent and an extraordinary desire to care for others. My team has been so blessed to be with working along side Leo, his family, and his ministry (Swazivision) this month.
One of the difficult aspects of missions is the language barrier. There are times I desire to know everything about a person, but don’t speak any of their language. There’s other moments that I feel like a toddler trying to learn, but get frustrated when I can’t speak what’s in my head. God showed me how emotions can be the universallanguage.
I’ve heard before that Love is the language that all can understand. That’s true… But it’s more than just that.
Leo and I were cooking some hard boiled eggs for our team. I enjoy learning and asking 100 questions… No shame in that. Leo also loves to teach so we make a great match! I was standing attentively next to his side as he was checking on the eggs. The next thing I know, Leo spoke something in Dutch, but with such a caring and fatherly tone.
I knew with the look on his face that I needed to step back, because he was about to dump boiling water down the drain to my left. I thought it was just crazy that he spoke in another language I couldn’t comprehend, yet I still understood what to do through his desire to keep me safe. I could feel his protection over me and those were the true words he spoke to my head in that moment.
This is even directly related to everyday life, especially in a place where I cannot speak many words of the native language.I can show my words through my emotion. I can care deeply for these people through my actions as well as simply listening. I can love unconditionally because I desire blessings on their lives. And in times of sorrow, I can mourn by their side without even needing to speak a word. Jesus did all of these during his time on earth.
One of the most powerful words, and also the shortest verse (John 11:35), to me in the bible is “Jesus wept”. He didn’t just shed a few tears over our pain… No no.. He wept! Snot nosed, red eyes, hand me a tissue kind of cry.
Empathy is the sledge hammer to the language barrier. Feeling together has the capability of going so much farther than any translator can do.
Cry together. Praise together. Laugh together. Smile together. Mourn together. Love together.
All of these things …. Can bring the whole world together without a word being spoken.
