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Learning the Language

by Jerry Ousley  
5/12/2007 / Christian Living

With the nation quickly making the transformation to a world market my purchasing job required me to make some calls to Mexico. The first couple I did by email. That was easy. All I had to do was send my message and let them worry about finding someone in the company who knew enough English to interpret it. But the third contact required me to make a phone call. I must confess, even though I took two years of Spanish in High School, that was longer ago than I care to remember and I have forgotten more than I learned (is that possible?). El gato (cat) didn't go very far in a production facility. So I began my conversation with "Hable ingles?" I went through four people before I found an individual who knew enough English to understand what I wanted. I was very frustrated, not with our Mexican neighbors but with myself for not knowing enough Spanish to communicate my thoughts.

To complicate matters I hear with a Southern Indiana accent. That had to add to the frustration of the people I was speaking with because they spoke the English language very meticulously even with their own accents. But the Southern Indiana dialect has problems hearing English from other parts of our nation, let alone from another nation.

Since beginning the Missions aspect of this ministry I have spoken several times with some of you who are reading this in various African nations. I know you have had to experience some frustrations with my continual, "Could you repeat that please?" I applaud those who have learned the English language and I feel sorry for those who have had to try to make me understand.

I've always considered myself to be technologically advanced. I've tried to keep up on computer lingo and keep my systems up to date. But as I get older I find myself asking my kids how to make something work - like the cell phone. My daughter knows everything about it. Me? I know how to dial the number and get connected. I know how to hang up. I know this because they showed me about a hundred times and it finally got through my thick skull.

Our son who lives in Cleveland, almost always has to set the clock on the microwave when he comes home. Inevitably the electric will go off sometime between his visits and I can never remember how to set that thing.

It's all a matter of knowing the language. Even in the English speaking nations the vernacular can keep you guessing as to what the speaker means. It's really the same with anything. If you are a chemist there are terms and procedures that are only understood by those who know the language of chemistry. The same with engineering, physics, metallurgy and, well the list goes on and on.

It's also true of God's Word. The Bible is a language not hard to learn but it does take practice and time. To really glean the promises found in its pages requires one to read over and over again. There was a time when the excuse was, "I can't get in to all of those 'thees' and 'thous' and I just don't understand it." But those days are over. There are many translations in the English language that use up to date English. When we have learned the language of the Bible then it truly becomes "a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths." (Psalm 119:105). So don't be frustrated when you pick it up to read. That is a trick of the devil to keep you from learning all those wonderful truths that not only will enrich your life but will explain a great deal about the world. Some attempt to say in our modern times that the Bible is a book of myths and fables. They will try to expel it with their logic, reason, and knowledge. But if you really dig deep in the Bible you will discover a wonderful revelation every scientific fact (not theory or opinion mind you) has only served to support the truth found in God's Word.

So think again before you dismiss it as old fashioned and outdated. You will find it full of adventure, excitement, love and passion. But most of all, after you have learned the language, you'll find yourself.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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