“Language is power.” -Matt in a conversation about how vulnerable we feel because of our current language barrier
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” – book of James, Bible
Thailand is teaching me to shut-up.
Literally, when you can’t speak {very much of} the language, you quickly learn to just stop talking. You learn to be quiet and observe more intently. You learn humility in the not-knowing, and you taste a God-friendship in the isolation. Even when I speak through a translator, I am learning the necessity of using few and simple words. Shutting-up is also teaching me to pray, smile, and hug much more often. Mostly though, it is teaching me about where the true Power lies.
Let me explain. Just tonight, I was meeting with our two college girls–recent graduates from Breanna’s House of Joy, who are currently supported as they pursue higher education. We typically meet twice a month with a translator outside a Starbucks downtown. We talk about their lives and then study the story of Jesus in the Bible. And tonight, well, tonight did not go well. At all. My mind scrambled for the right words. The translator fumbled. The girls gave blank stares. It was trudging through thigh-deep mud. Uphill. After already having run a marathon.
Messy. Slow. Exhausting.
And we were only 20 minutes in, and I had already run out of things to say. I had left my Bible in the car and theirs were in Thai. I had dropped the ball on preparing for the meeting in the first place, and so I hadn’t come with an inspirational story to deliver. To be honest, I hadn’t even read the assigned chapters. I was lost. And we still had 40 minutes left to stare and smile at each other across the table.
And then I heard the familiar Whisper— as a thought, quick and definite. And it asked me where the Power to inspire and change and grow comes from in the first place.
And so, we opened the Word, and we let Him speak for Himself.
And we talked about Jesus being Bread and Water. And we read about how he took a few loaves and a couple of fish and fed thousands. We talked about how belief leads to Life and
how he is enough for even the thirstiest soul.
And those were much better words than I could ever have spoken in the first place.
Thoughts on shutting-up? In what ways are more words not always the answer?
ALifeOverseas.com / LauraParkerBlog.com.
Destined Traveler.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I post this Mark Twain quote in my classroom eac year: “If we were meant to talk more than listen, we would have two mouths and one ear.” I love your reminder this morning – I ALWAYS need this counsel as I talk WAY too much!
kendal recently posted..on mirrors and truth
Kendal–I love that quote!
And, I agree, I talk way too much, too.
Hope you had a great day at school today . . . Laura
It is interesting that someone we both know and love, Amy R. has always had such an impact on me because she doesn’t fill up space with words. Because of this habit of life, when she does speak, her words have so much value to me.
It is humbling to watch the power of the Word of God as it goes forth. We know it’s power intellectually but we are almost surprised when we witness it. Does it surprise you as it does me when I will apply the Word in a conversation and down the road of time someone will say I will never forget when you said… Usually I barely remember the conversation but it was the Word of God that had power on that person’s life. Now that is Awesome!
Absolutely, Kim. I love your example of Amy! What a beautiful picture of a lady whose words carry weight because they are measured. Reminds me that I totally need to do some more measuring on my end.
AND, YES– it’s like we forget and somehow think that we can come up with a more effective way to say Jesus-words than Jesus/God said Himself. Like we can improve it somehow. And I know for me, often my “improvement” is not at all that.
Thanks for commenting, Kim. And know that YOUR words (and the ways you have spoken His words) have had a profound impact on me over the years.
Love, Laura
Hmmmm, my motto from time to time has been: why use 5 words when you can use 50?
The thing is that Kim S. is so right when referencing someone who speaks few – but meaningful – words and also when we speak from the Bible, those are the ones that stick.
More words are not the answer when a few well-chosen ones suffice. And knowing when that is is determined by purposefully slowing down to let God speak through you (me).
Thanks AGAIN for your thoughtful questions!
Yes, I like that: “few but meaningful.” I like that alot.
And I think you are right about timing our words, too. The wisdom to know when to just shut up and when to open your mouth can sometimes be pretty critical to if the person hearing is in a place to receive your words in the first place.
Laura
I love you sweet lady! Never stop writing. You paint the world through better eyes. So glad your mine!
Matt recently posted..The Open Door Video
I need to use less words with my kids. Sometimes I feel like I talk them to death. Amy’s son, however, doesn’t have that problem!