Language Barrier
In exactly one month from now I will be on a plane, heading to East Asia. Nervousness, excitedness and general unknowingness fill my mind with what the adventure on the other side of the pond will bring. It will only last for a week, but I am praying for God to move in big ways.
But...I tend to start in little ways. A language book is my first order of business, and as I boggle and bundle my way through rather ridiculously, my lips sputtering and tongue slaughtering the words, I think "I need of a tutor." English is my spoken word, but I have always had a fascination with other cultures and their speech. German, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin Chinese are now among my attempted languages, hopefully the last one won't end in frustration like the former.
Thus, my tutoring begins.
Luer Jin is my unofficial interpreter and official friend, willing to help me when I feel like throwing my book in the dirt. Her accent is beautiful, but she slows her perfect pronunciation for my brain to catch up with my word formation. My eyes glaze over when I realize I still need to understand the written characters, or else find another way to interpret the signs when finding the restroom in Beijing. My excitement spurs me on, and though my dedication lags now and again, I have a lovely teacher in Luer, who forgives me when I don't try and encourages me when I do.
In correlation to this language thing, I have come to the conclusion that my understanding of another language is far from perfect either. My ability to interpret the language of God's grace is still in the toddler stage. I don't know about you, but I tend to be harder on myself than is healthy. God knows this, and that's why he offers grace. Pressing, loving, all-encompassing grace. It is a language I struggle to comprehend, my human mind unable to decipher the reason why he longs to extend me this beautiful, life-giving grace.
So, I take on word at a time, one aspect of his character, one verse of his word and it makes a stunning chapter in my book. If you ever wonder about his grace, too, we can work through it together.
Thus, my tutoring begins.
Luer Jin is my unofficial interpreter and official friend, willing to help me when I feel like throwing my book in the dirt. Her accent is beautiful, but she slows her perfect pronunciation for my brain to catch up with my word formation. My eyes glaze over when I realize I still need to understand the written characters, or else find another way to interpret the signs when finding the restroom in Beijing. My excitement spurs me on, and though my dedication lags now and again, I have a lovely teacher in Luer, who forgives me when I don't try and encourages me when I do.
In correlation to this language thing, I have come to the conclusion that my understanding of another language is far from perfect either. My ability to interpret the language of God's grace is still in the toddler stage. I don't know about you, but I tend to be harder on myself than is healthy. God knows this, and that's why he offers grace. Pressing, loving, all-encompassing grace. It is a language I struggle to comprehend, my human mind unable to decipher the reason why he longs to extend me this beautiful, life-giving grace.
So, I take on word at a time, one aspect of his character, one verse of his word and it makes a stunning chapter in my book. If you ever wonder about his grace, too, we can work through it together.
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