Pastor's Pen

From the Pastor

Picture this. Seventeen different male actors, dressed in tuxedos, who each played the part of Jean Val Jean in their respective countries. They were celebrating 10 years of the Les Miserables play.

As they processed down the theatre’s center aisle, at the closing of one of their performances, each actor represented his own country, and the flag bearer walked right beside him carrying his nation’s flag held high proudly. They each sang a part of the two songs “One More Day” and “Can You Hear the People Sing,” in their own native languages. First the American actor, then the ones from Canada, Denmark, Japan, Hungary, France, Sweden, etc. I am mesmerized by the way their words were full of passion, and you could see the emotion in their faces!

Words have the power to give life. Think about the way God brought together Creation from chaos with his breath. If we are created in the image of God, and we then can also create with our breath…our sounds…our words.

There is a great deal of beauty and awe in the diverse sounds that come from our larynx, tongue, teeth and lips. The words have meaning and power to influence history, or to comfort, or harm, or encourage, to build oneself up. The combined languages of the Les Miserables actors in the finale song, was marvelous because they were singing different words, but you could know the sounds they were making with the words of their own language. And despite the difference, there was breath-taking beauty, and unity. No pun intended.

I know that often my actions and words fall short of how God is calling me to speak. One of the most fascinating letters to the church in Galatia written by the Apostle Paul contains these words: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT).

Just think – the breath in us is the very real breath of God! Isn’t this so amazing? Our words have power, and we have choices to make in how we choose to speak and make transforming audio vibrations which reverberate into our atmosphere and into our world. Will people and the world be a better place because of my words? The power is not us but held in the presence of Christ in me, helping lead me through the Holy Spirit. We have a duty to spread the Gospel of Love in our words and actions. It’s a matter of communicating. It’s a matter of listening to the Spirit speak love into us, so the words we hear are embedded inside our hearts and flow forth. Then will come the great day in our eternal home when all the different languages will be understood. In unity and perfection. Amen.

Blessings and Love,

Pastor Bette