Form And Meaning

Let me tell you about my afternoon. It was just awkward. I was sitting in a room, waiting for my Deaf client to arrive. I am the only non-Spanish speaker in the room. When I first came in, everyone had been pretty quiet, but after a few minutes, someone started telling a joke in Spanish…

At least, I think it was a joke. Judging by facial expressions, loud tones and wild gesturing (not to mention the riotous laughter that followed), I’d say it’s safe to say a joke was being told. For that moment, everyone in the room was united… except for me. I was left out because I didn’t understand the language. I knew a few words here and there, but not enough to make sense of it. I wanted to be involved – I wanted to know what caused everyone to smile, to laugh, to form community for the briefest moment… but I was excluded. I couldn’t understand, because of the form the message came in.

Flash back to a few weeks prior. I was sitting with another group of people. Another joke was being told, complete with the facial expressions, loud tones and wild gesturing, and I didn’t understand a word of it… until a friend interpreted the joke into a language I could understand. I was able to laugh along with them, to smile, to understand the message…

This afternoon when I was excluded, I didn’t think much about it. Maybe no one spoke English in the room; maybe no one could have interpreted for the girl who was CLEARLY confused and left out. But then I heard the woman who was sitting next to me start to speak in English. She had the ability to explain, and didn’t. I really didn’t mind in the slightest, but it did make me start to think: how often do I do that to people? I don’t mean jokes and conversation topics, but in terms of my faith. How often do I throw out phrases and words that are baffling to those outside of the faith, without explaining what I actually mean?

Let me give you an example. Suppose you had no church background and I told you I’d been “cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.” Be honest, you’d think I slaughtered a sheep in my backyard, and you’d probably think I was nuts. Or what if I said I was having my “quiet time” and struggling in “my walk.” Wouldn’t you think I’d taken a nap and was having mobility issues?

Within Christianity, we have a beautiful vocabulary. It’s rich, and weighty and deep… but when those who don’t know Christ hear those words, there must be confusion regarding what I’m talking about. I know there is, because I’ve asked some of my non-Christians friends, and they’ve all admitted to it.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” 1 Peter 3:15

Certain words have rich meaning for me. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb – Christ literally dying for me, taking the punishment for my sin and giving me forgiveness in exchange; the way that I’ve been declared right in God’s eyes – not because of me – but because of the obedience of Jesus. Quiet time – a period of time that I’ve set aside to use for praying, reading my Bible, journaling, and engaging God. My walk – my relationship with God. That’s not a perfect explanation, but that is how I described it last week to the fourteen year old I mentor. (Oh, and am I the only one who hates the term "quiet time"? It sounds like a punishment, or something...)

Think of it like this: as a sign language interpreter, my profession requires that I understand what’s being said in one language, so I can alter the form of the message unto the second language. The message (the point of whatever was said) doesn’t change; only the form is altered. The message the Deaf person signs should be exactly the same as the one the hearing person will receive in English.

When I talk about Christ, I strive to be able to take the message, and by CHANGING THE FORM, make myself clear. Jesus related to the people in his culture by telling stories and using every-day examples, like when he told them stories about a woman sweeping her house to find a lost coin, or a guy sowing seeds in his field.

I have to be able to give an answer to everyone who asks me about the hope I have because of Christ. EVERYONE. Those who have a church vocabulary and those who don’t. Those who already have heard about Jesus and those who haven’t. I have to be able to explain who Jesus is to me.

Can you change the form of your words and explain it to others? Are you able to explain Christ without falling back on unclear phrases and clichés? I’m still figuring it out. All I know for sure is that I never want to talk about Christ and let the other person struggle because of the form of my message. I always want to be able to answer questions about the hope I have because of Jesus.

By the blood of the Lamb,*

Casey

*I gave an explanation, so I have no problem using it here! :-D

Getting Through the Door

Even the government doesn’t want me as their sign language interpreter. Or… something like that.

Recently, I was to work at a governmental place as an interpreter. So, I do my normal procedure: get lost, wander around until I find the place by accident, go through a security metal-detector-thing, fail, and go through again, and find someone who can point me in the right direction. (Directions and passing security metal-detector-things are not among my strengths.)

This is a high security building, so I ask security officers who I need to speak to in order to get into the proper place. I showed them my ‘terp ID badge and verification forms for work, etc., to prove who I am. They respond: “We don’t have a sign language interpreter scheduled today.”

That really wasn’t my question. So I tell them specifically what thing I’ll be interpreting for, the agency I work with, all that stuff. They say no. I tell them I’m going to call my Contact Person in case there was a miscommunication. They say no phones may be used on the premises. I ask if one of them could call to verify instead. They say no.

They won’t let me move forward, and where I’m at, I really can’t go back outside. The extra time I had before the assignment starts is almost gone.

Then - my awesome teammate shows up. He walks through security (passing the metal-detector-thing the first time), comes up to the SAME security guys, and goes, “Hey guys! How’ve you been? Listen, Casey and I are interpreting soon; would you mind taking us back to the room? Thanks.”

And like magic, they let us go to the right location, my teammate leading the way. No questions asked. No need for justification.

It made me come to two logical conclusions:
1. Not even the government wants me as their interpreter.
2. Sometimes, you can’t get where you want to go, without someone else to get you there.

Okay, so number two is actually my main point: I’m suck without someone to go ahead of me. Without my teammate, I wouldn’t have been able to get in. (At least not on time.) Likewise, without Christ – I wouldn’t be able to make it to Heaven.

I had proof that I was a legitimate interpreter today: my ID, my forms, etc. but I didn’t have the right person to get through. In life, you can have all the “right things”: do good works, feed the hungry, be honest, help old ladies cross the street, take care of orphans and widows. All of that stuff is good! But if you don’t have the right Person – that person being Jesus Christ – you’re stuck. You cannot make it into Heaven on your own, if you don’t have the right Person to go ahead of you.

Jesus is the only way to Heaven. It's only through Him that you can be fully justified and allowed to enter.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” – John 14:6

That’s what I learned today. And I have a new story to add to my growing list of “One time, when I was interpreting…” stories. It’s almost as amusing as when my student kicked a live roach at me...

Following the Leader,

Casey

It Doesn't Change Who He Is

“Even if God never does a single thing for the rest of your life and you die without Him having done anything for you – that doesn’t change who God is.”

Wow. I don’t know about you, but that is an intense message for me to truly wrap my mind around. On Sunday, one of my pastors was talking about Faith and who God is. We’ve been studying Hebrews for about four years now and today we came back to Hebrews chapter 11:1. I’m pretty sure every person in my church, including the two year olds can says this verse now because of how many times we’ve referenced it. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

I was interpreting the sermon and when I interpret, I don’t always remember a lot of what goes on because I’m so focused on the changing one language for the other, but for the second half of the sermon, the other interpreter took over so I got a break and could actually pay attention to the message.

That’s when he said it. “Even if God never does a single thing for the rest of your life and you die without Him having done anything for you – that doesn’t change who God is.”

Wow. That’s some serious stuff. If God never answers a single prayer for the rest of my life, it doesn’t change who He is? Now, mentally, I know all of this. But in my heart – let’s just say sometimes I doubt a little more. What if I’m praying for something really powerful, like for my friend who’s dad has an incurable disease that’s taking over his body? What if I’m praying for salvation for a family member who gets closer to death every day? What if I’m praying for things like a passion for a life that glorifies God? What if I’m praying for my friend’s family that is breaking apart? What if I’m praying for my relationship with my siblings?

What if God never answers those prayers with a yes? What happens to my faith if God answers “no” to each of my prayers? Some of those break my heart every time they come to mind. I have wept because of those prayers, none of which have yet to be answered. How, if I am to truly trust that He loves me beyond all measure, can I trust Him when He doesn’t answer?

But maybe it’s not that He isn’t answering, but He’s just not answering the way I want. Maybe my friend’s father will be healed on the other side of eternity. Maybe God’s calling me to make the first move in the relationship with my sibs. What if He’s calling me to trust Him and wait for His timing? Could I be assuming the worst about God because things aren’t working in my timing? Because in the end, when everything is said and done… it still doesn’t change who He is. His character never changes. His promises don’t change.

I won’t claim to have it worked out. But that statement really made me take a step back. I’m still thinking about it, to be honest. One thing I know beyond a doubt: He is who He claims, whether that means I’m on the mountain being restored and refreshed, or going through the valley, or if I feel like I’m stuck somewhere in the wilderness without hill or dip anywhere around. He is who He says.

Makes me think of the verse I found early this year when I was really struggling from Psalm 62:11-12a:

“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.”

Learning who He is,
Casey