What do you say when you can’t
say anything?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
It seems that so many of our group
reflection conversations focus on our joy in connecting with others.
Many times these encounters are sweet, but brief. They leave you glad
for the moment and then hoping that the next will bring more. More
info about a workers family, more joy from hearing cute kids practice
their basic English, and more understanding of the instructions from
our experts.
A day in the clinic brings a new
challenge. When you are a receptionist in a Haitian health clinic
with no knowledge of Creole, it makes organizing the masses more
difficult. When all you can ask is for their name, it makes it hard
to find moments of connection. You linger on the words you know, and
hope for a knowing glance. You read body language and the din of
crowd, measuring their contentment. It becomes easy to be bogged down
in the doubt of the moment...wondering if there will be a moment...to
bring any peace or support to the people pushing their way in the
door to escape the heat of the mid-day sun.
Yet in the moment when their name is
finally called and they go into the tunnel of light, bringing
illumination to their ailment and relief from some of their pain, you
see the universal sign. Gratitude has no single language. Love is
shared through actions of care. At the end of the day the words I
can't express don't matter, because the purpose remains the same. I
can't say it, but I am so glad we can be here to help. I can't
understand you, but I know you are thankful. Though I remain
disappointed that I can't say more, when I can't say anything to you,
I can do good in all the ways I can, and in all the places I can,
with all the people I can.
Action is my voice today.
Rev. Dan Hart
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