Listening to what we say…

By Not Known

At the wake service of my aunt last month, a pastor from her church whom I knew asked me a pointed question during our brief conversation, “What do you think Christians say to each other in church?”  I had no idea why he asked me that question to begin with.  Nonetheless it set me thinking.

I’d been talking with various people since then.  Asking that similar question to different people.  What do we talk about as Christians?  Topic?  Are there words that only Christians use?  Here are a few of them that were mentioned frequently:

Cars                                                                    Tension
Retirement                                                          Anxiety
Holiday                                                               Meaning
Stressful                                                             Insomnia
Season                                                               Rest
Broken

 

Others added theirs.  I wonder if these words are just “Christiany” phrases or just regular ones non-believers say as well?  Here are more…

Struggling with                                                   Living life meaningfully
A heart for                                                         Unravelling issues
Need protection                                                 Pouring into
Loving unloving people                                      Bring happiness to

 

I really appreciate the conversations and I am sure there would be more phrases and words used.  And it was really interesting to really listen to people’s inner expressions.  As I listened to them and discern what they are really saying, I began to unravel the issues many of them are facing.  As I made it a point to really listen, it dawned on me that it doesn’t matter as much what the topic of conversation is, you hear these phrases and words that are truly an expression of their inner feelings.

When we “do life together” as a caring and living community at ORPC, let us “pour out” to one another, “listen to” each of our inner feelings, no matter how messy or broken as they may at our season of life.  We can identify with them and perhaps say words and phrases that uplift and encourage.

Paul reminded us, “that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.” (1 Cor. 12:25-26)