BY LYNETTE CALLFAS
GLENAVON/MOFFAT UNITED CHURCHES

We live in a world that has suddenly exploded with ways in which to communicate. We can phone, fax or e-mail. One can also chat online in a chat room or catch up with friends on Facebook, or we can communicate with loved ones through text messaging. I admit that I would just love to text someone, but unfortunately don’t have a cell phone with that particular function. I have been at times quite tempted to get one of those cute little “Blackberry Pearl.” phones. Members of my family though warn me that I would most likely have a difficult time learning how as I’m not too good with technology, and as well, I don’t know who I would text with. Any offers out there?

From watching text message exchanges on television though I would have to learn a whole new language as text messaging seems to have a unique set of abbreviations that mean various things or so I understand.

In spite of the host of ways to communicate though, sometimes it seems that our world can still be filled with lack of communication, with misunderstandings, and with misinterpretation. Sometimes we just don’t understand where another person is coming from. What they are doing or saying or both don’t make a lot of sense to us. Even when we speak the same language the meaning of what we are saying can vary. I received an e-mail this week, entitled. “Say What? 21 Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn” Listen carefully as I share a few of these twenty-one reasons with you. The bandage was wound around the wound. The farm was used to produce produce. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. We must polish the Polish furniture. He could lead if he would get the lead out. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. The wind was too strong to wind the sail. Each phrase contains the identical word used at least one other context, where it bears another meaning! All of this can lead to a lot of confusion and we are just considering English, one language. In the Christian church on the day of Pentecost a miracle of understanding happened. All of these people were gathered together in one place. People from different countries who were speaking in different languages. Yet, when the Holy Spirit came upon those assembled there, everyone could understand the message that the disciples had to share.

Let us pray today that we be given a gift of understanding. Let us endeavour to better understand our family members, our neighbours and our friends. Better communication in our world will lead to better relations between nations. Maybe ever to peace. That’s something to get excited about.