Interpreters

Last month I had my first experience teaching with an interpreter at my side, conveying my English words into the listeners' language.

It was a fascinating learning opportunity for me.

A few months earlier, a preacher from South America came to our church and spoke on Sunday morning with an interpreter from our church, translating his words for us. I noticed that the preacher spoke in short, powerful sentences most of the time.

I recognized that the short sentences allowed me (as listener) to get the translation more immediately. And I suspected that it was easier for the translater. Indeed, when the speaker used a longer, more complex sentence, the interpreter struggled.

So as I prepared my lessons for the far away land, I determined to tell my lessons in short, straight-forward sentences. I didn't want the duplication involved in translation to dilute or diminish the lesson.

I also guessed that the underlying structure of the lesson should be direct, with a small number of main points. I suspected that introducing a translater creates a layer of complication for the listener and so further complication should be minimized.

I taught two lessons with interpreters -- one a male interpreter and one a female interpreter. In each case, the interpreter picked up the cadence of my lesson so that the interpretation seemed almost an echo of my words. I was surprised to discover that I felt supported by my interpreter. The interpreter seemed to come alongside me and give my words the wings they needed to bridge the gap to my non-English listeners. . . . which made me think about how the Spirit assists me when I am in prayer. (Romans 8:26-27)

I also noted that with the use of simple, declarative statements, the teaching was much more potent. The unadorned story of the Bible was powerful. When complicated sentences and intricate reasonings fell away, the foundation biblical teaching was awesome.

In a way, I felt that I was an observer of my own lessons, watching the Spirit reach the students, and it was an inspiring experience. The Word is indeed sharper than a two-edged sword and capable of the most delicate surgery (Heb 4:12-13) as it reaches into the core of our beings. It was a joy to watch Him at work.

Order of learning

Isn't it interesting that the order in which we learn things has something to do with how we understand them?

For instance, as a child I learned about church before I learned about God.

From a young age, I was admonished that it was important to go to church. In my childhood, a good person was often referred to "a faithful member of (whatever) church." Within the church, I heard approving comments of "he/she is here every time the doors are open."

It's interesting, isn't it, that there is no mention of God in any of those statements.

So I learned about God through the lens of the church, instead of the other way around. I accepted the concept and reality of church, and then as I learned about God I tried to fit Him into that frame.

My starting place was the church in my town, with all its failings and imperfections and misunderstandings; no wonder some of my perceptions of God were askew.

In more recent years I've been trying to think through church and its role through the lens of what I now know about God. When you begin with a loving, powerful God, and then consider the role of the church, the view is startlingly different.

What a difference that order makes!

Restoration

The town where I live has a number of delightful historic buildings.

In downtown, shiny glass office buildings stretch toward the sky immediately adjacent to two- and three-story structures built more than 100 years ago. The combination results in a special kind of charm or personality that feels much more approachable and friendly than some downtown business districts.

As historic preservation has grown in importance over the years, we have seen dumpy, abandoned old buildings experience amazing transformations. Eyesores have been turned into centerpieces. Buildings to be avoided have become sought-after addresses.

Sometimes the restoration seems nothing short of a miracle. A dirty, broken-down building becomes a gleaming show-place. A trashy, ugly house is changed into a delight to the neighborhood.

I've often admired the skill of the craftsmen who can replace the broken, damaged pieces and parts with something new and lovely -- while always staying true to the original design. I stand in awe of the carpenters and masons who have the talent to breathe new life into a structure.

Recently someone called my attention to four of the early words in the 23rd Psalm -- "He restores my soul."

In some ways, I am like those buildings that need repair.

When I have lived my life in such a way that my inner self is damaged or broken, God can bring newness and revive me. When I am battered and dirty from the daily challenge of living life in a fallen world, the Good Shepherd can refresh me and prepare me to try again to live a life worthy of Him.

When no one else -- even me! -- sees value in me, God sees me for what I can become. He sees the cleaned-up potential when I am still ramshackled and abandoned.

I am the result of God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), and He is an expert craftsman. May I never doubt His power to make new.

Acting

Although I have been on stage from time to time, it would not be accurate to say that I've ever been an actor. My experiences are limited to silly skits and acting out stories for kids.

I am interested in acting, however. I remember hearing Marlon Brando and others talk about the "Method Acting" they found successful. Under this technique, if an actor's character was supposed to cry, the actor thought of something sad in his own life to bring tears.

In more recent years, actors have been taught to go more deeply into the character; to imagine the character in all sorts of circumstances to explore how the character might react. In this way, they would get to know their character from the inside out, and thereby be able to play the character more successfully.

We've all read stories about actors who actually spent time in circumstances similar to the role they were going to play in a movie. By spending time in the surroundings, the actor is seeking to get "inside the head" of the character so that he can portray the character more believably.

It occurs to me that to some degree we should be working, preparing, studying to act the role of Jesus. We should be exploring how Jesus would react in circumstances. (WWJD) We should be trying to get inside his head. (Phil 2)

We are called to be imitators of Christ; we are called to ACT like Jesus. Each morning we should "put on" Jesus. Throughout the day we should impersonate him. Think like him. Love like him.

And our internal efforts should produce external results. Characteristics of Jesus should shine through our personalities. Those around us should see Jesus in us.

So, if we are accused of "putting on an act" -- maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Change

It's possible that in the last 20 years more has been written in the business world about "change" than any other topic. Business experts discuss how to ensure an organization is "nimble." For a while, all you could hear was how readily a company could abandon its paradigm. The focus has been on change.

In schools too, the issue of change has been a frequent topic. Because of the information explosion and the rapid pace of change, educators were encouraged not to teach facts, but to teach research skills -- not to teach information, but to teach adaptability and problem solving. This would prepare our young people for change.

It's as though we -- in this generation -- had discovered the idea of change. Some were frightened by it and resistent; some were energized by it and eager.

From the time of creation, however, our God has been a God of change. Creation itself attests to that. God spoke, and change occurred. The ideas of growth, development, and metamorphesis are fundamental to all of creation.

On a more personal level, we are told that we need to "become" more like Christ. We are told to "put on" the new man. We are urged to grow, mature, be transformed in our minds.

Long before our current society latched onto the idea of change, God was beaconing us to be something different/better today than we were yesterday. God is looking for change in our actions, in our thinking, in our character.

Which leads me to ponder: how am I different today? have I grown any since yesterday? am I altered by my recent encounters with God? Or do I look in the mirror and then walk away without any change?

And a corollary idea: shouldn't I expect the people around me to change? don't I do them a disservice by pigeonholing them as a certain sort of person and assuming that they will always be like that? shouldn't I be encouraging them to blossom?

Rather than being threatened by change, followers of Christ should be championing change in ourselves and in those around us . . . urging each other on to new thoughts, new understandings, new ways of being like Christ.

Years ago I read that one of the most valid prayers is "Change me!" We often pray for changed circumstances, but we don't often grow brave enough to pray "change ME!" We prefer that the other person, the situation, the outcomes be remolded to fit us -- an amazingly self-centered approach when you think about it.

But dare I say it? Dare I risk the me that is familiar? Dare I trust God enough to request that He go to work on me? The answer has to be yes.

Lord, change me!