John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. “
Quinn, my ten-month old grandson, and I recently had a delightful conversation. Of course, it was in blowing-raspberries-ish so you might not have understood it. He would place his tongue between his lips and blow, then I would imitate him, with a smile, he would repeat it, and then me again. No question about it, on some level, we were communicating back and forth. Without words.
Because words aren’t the only means of communication.
A Guatemalan man who speaks very little English, has been attending our church. The first Sunday he came, we served communion at the end of the service. The connection we felt as we shared the body and blood of Christ expressed more than either of our languages.
We speak volumes in the way we carry out our work, in how we view those less fortunate, in our treatment of people who serve us. And the volume increases quite a few decibels in the way we regard (or disregard) those who disagree with us.
Best-selling author John Maxwell writes about the importance of strong communication skills in his book, The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication. He says our most effective message is the one we live. If what we say and what we do don’t match up, no amount of words can carry the conversation.
No one lived a more consistent, authentic life than Jesus. The words he spoke and the actions he took reflected the same language. That language: love.
When he washed his disciples’ feet, he spoke love. When he touched the lepers, he spoke love. When he fed the multitudes with bread and fish, he spoke love. But he also communicated love when he overturned the money changers’ tables and when he rebuked the Pharisees. Jesus showed us love means caring enough about people to meet them right where they’re at.
And he instructed his followers to speak his language. To love like he loved would define their citizenship. His language of love would cross all linguistic barriers, all ethnic, religious and societal walls.
So whether I’m trying to communicate in English, Spanglish or Blowing-raspberries-ish, I want to communicate love. The language of Jesus.
How about you?