Anyone who has traveled in a foreign country probably has a humorous antidote to tell about what was lost in translation. I had the opportunity to travel to Germany on a school exchange when I was 14. We went for six weeks, and there was a corresponding group of students from a high school in Bonn, Germany. They stayed in our homes, while in the U.S., and we stayed with them. During the first few weeks we stayed in Bonn, we attended school, theoretically immersing ourselves in the language and preparing for a trip to various other German cities and landmarks. Special time was spent in teaching us key "emergency" phrases. Truthfully, I was overwhelmed with all there was to do and see and I chose to join with those who often skipped classes. Most of the shops in Bonn had clerks that knew adequate English. I felt pretty confident that I hadn't missed anything important.
However, one evening in the midst of Köln, I found myself with just another American student. We had gotten separated from the group, finished looking around and shopping, and desperately wanted to get back to the youth hostel where we were staying. There seemed to be no choice but to ask for directions, though there weren't many people to choose from. It was decided I was better at the language so when we saw a clean cut young man, we decided to ask. I consulted my German/English dictionary to be safe, and felt confident I knew how to clearly ASK if he could give DIRECTIONS to the youth hostel. In response his face lit up, he walked over put his arm around me, and leaned down to whisper his response suggestively in my ear. Being a conservative, religious farm girl from Idaho, I was shocked and repelled. I pushed him away with a NEIN! He looked confused and irritated, and we quickly walked away, really disgusted that this obviously older young man would try to take advantage of our being lost like that. We then tried prayer, and did find our way back to the youth hostel.
Later, when we related the incident to the German students, the boys in the group burst out laughing. Seems I got it a bit mixed up. The words I used weren't wrong- taken separately they meant just what I thought they did- but use that verb tense and word order, and from the young man's perspective I had not ASKED for directions, but DIRECTED the young man to accompany me back to the youth hostel - in that time and culture a clear invitation to um…. Needless to say, I took the time to learn the right way to ask for directions and just to be sure, I didn't go out sightseeing again without a German student.
Prior to this moment, the only place I wrote (or spoke) about that incident was in the journal I kept during my visit to Germany. But I have thought about it from time to time. Especially after I received those "personal parables" I wrote about in my last blog. Just as there was a huge gap between the true thoughts and intents of my heart and what that family of robins perceived them to be, the experience with my son showed me there was a huge gap between the thoughts and intents of my Heavenly Father, and what I perceived them to be. But, we are clearly taught that the reverse is not true. He has a perfect understanding of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. (See Alma 12:7, Alma 18:32, Doctrine & Covenants 6:16) And He earnestly desires that we should know of His love for us. (John 3:16, Jeremiah 31:3, 2 Nephi 26:26 for a very few examples of many, many.) So why did I tend to see God first as an authoritarian- who hated my weakness and expected perfect obedience and who delighted in punishing me when I made mistakes- rather than a loving Father who designed this whole mortal experience so that I might learn and grow, and who patiently and lovingly walks beside me, cheering on my weaker steps, and giving me His hand to strengthen me as I learn. And why, after many years of having that misconception, did it begin to change? Why did I begin to see in baby's steps and robin's wings manifestations of God's love?
That mortifying experience from my youth seemed to hold a key to my question. The young man had misunderstood the thoughts and intents of my heart because I had not taken the time to become conversant in his language. I had the opportunity to learn the German phrase I needed before I ever left the U.S. Moreover, I had several opportunities to learn and practice the German language, both at school and in my exchange partner's home. I just really didn't feel the need- assuming what I knew to be quite adequate. You might say I had an attitude of a sightseer rather than a student. In the same way, a few years prior to the experience with my son, I realized I had never really treated the gospel like other subjects that really interested me. When we studied Egypt in 4th grade, I went to the library and found out everything I could on the subject. When we studied Greek mythology, I read everything I could get my hands on about it. In fact, I think it safe to say I had studied texts about Medieval Christianity more than the precious scriptures themselves. Up until I faced some adult difficulties, I just really didn't feel the need to be a student of the scriptures the way I had been a student of so many other things. I really felt, having grown up in a home where the gospel was available, I knew enough. And like my German partner and the Bonn school teachers, the Lord doesn't ever force his children. Instead he offers, if we desire it, and recognize our need to learn, to teach us "line upon line." If we continue as His student He promises that we can "know the mysteries of God until (we) know them in full." (James 1:5, Isaiah 28:9-10, Alma 12:10) In short he promises we will become conversant in His language, understand Him clearly, and "feel encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." (1 Nephi 1:15) In those "personal parables" was my personal "hug" and manifestation that His promise was beginning to happen in my life. God cannot lie. When I saw myself first and foremost as a student, sorely in need of wisdom, learning at His feet; when I made a daily effort to "feast upon the words of Christ," trusting His promise that they would "tell (me) all things what (I) should do;" I began to see and feel his love and learn his ways, just as every one of His children who seeks him does. I think what amazed me most, and continues to amaze me, was how deeply individual and personal is His teaching method. I guess I was and am learning what Elder Ballard so eloquently taught:
Brothers and sisters, I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God….Sadly, in today’s world, a person’s importance is often judged by the size of the audience before which he or she performs. That is how media and sports programs are rated, how corporate prominence is sometimes determined, and often how governmental rank is obtained...Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, there may be only one size of audience that is of lasting importance—and that is just one, each one, you and me, and each one of the children of God.
However, one evening in the midst of Köln, I found myself with just another American student. We had gotten separated from the group, finished looking around and shopping, and desperately wanted to get back to the youth hostel where we were staying. There seemed to be no choice but to ask for directions, though there weren't many people to choose from. It was decided I was better at the language so when we saw a clean cut young man, we decided to ask. I consulted my German/English dictionary to be safe, and felt confident I knew how to clearly ASK if he could give DIRECTIONS to the youth hostel. In response his face lit up, he walked over put his arm around me, and leaned down to whisper his response suggestively in my ear. Being a conservative, religious farm girl from Idaho, I was shocked and repelled. I pushed him away with a NEIN! He looked confused and irritated, and we quickly walked away, really disgusted that this obviously older young man would try to take advantage of our being lost like that. We then tried prayer, and did find our way back to the youth hostel.
Later, when we related the incident to the German students, the boys in the group burst out laughing. Seems I got it a bit mixed up. The words I used weren't wrong- taken separately they meant just what I thought they did- but use that verb tense and word order, and from the young man's perspective I had not ASKED for directions, but DIRECTED the young man to accompany me back to the youth hostel - in that time and culture a clear invitation to um…. Needless to say, I took the time to learn the right way to ask for directions and just to be sure, I didn't go out sightseeing again without a German student.
Prior to this moment, the only place I wrote (or spoke) about that incident was in the journal I kept during my visit to Germany. But I have thought about it from time to time. Especially after I received those "personal parables" I wrote about in my last blog. Just as there was a huge gap between the true thoughts and intents of my heart and what that family of robins perceived them to be, the experience with my son showed me there was a huge gap between the thoughts and intents of my Heavenly Father, and what I perceived them to be. But, we are clearly taught that the reverse is not true. He has a perfect understanding of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. (See Alma 12:7, Alma 18:32, Doctrine & Covenants 6:16) And He earnestly desires that we should know of His love for us. (John 3:16, Jeremiah 31:3, 2 Nephi 26:26 for a very few examples of many, many.) So why did I tend to see God first as an authoritarian- who hated my weakness and expected perfect obedience and who delighted in punishing me when I made mistakes- rather than a loving Father who designed this whole mortal experience so that I might learn and grow, and who patiently and lovingly walks beside me, cheering on my weaker steps, and giving me His hand to strengthen me as I learn. And why, after many years of having that misconception, did it begin to change? Why did I begin to see in baby's steps and robin's wings manifestations of God's love?
That mortifying experience from my youth seemed to hold a key to my question. The young man had misunderstood the thoughts and intents of my heart because I had not taken the time to become conversant in his language. I had the opportunity to learn the German phrase I needed before I ever left the U.S. Moreover, I had several opportunities to learn and practice the German language, both at school and in my exchange partner's home. I just really didn't feel the need- assuming what I knew to be quite adequate. You might say I had an attitude of a sightseer rather than a student. In the same way, a few years prior to the experience with my son, I realized I had never really treated the gospel like other subjects that really interested me. When we studied Egypt in 4th grade, I went to the library and found out everything I could on the subject. When we studied Greek mythology, I read everything I could get my hands on about it. In fact, I think it safe to say I had studied texts about Medieval Christianity more than the precious scriptures themselves. Up until I faced some adult difficulties, I just really didn't feel the need to be a student of the scriptures the way I had been a student of so many other things. I really felt, having grown up in a home where the gospel was available, I knew enough. And like my German partner and the Bonn school teachers, the Lord doesn't ever force his children. Instead he offers, if we desire it, and recognize our need to learn, to teach us "line upon line." If we continue as His student He promises that we can "know the mysteries of God until (we) know them in full." (James 1:5, Isaiah 28:9-10, Alma 12:10) In short he promises we will become conversant in His language, understand Him clearly, and "feel encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." (1 Nephi 1:15) In those "personal parables" was my personal "hug" and manifestation that His promise was beginning to happen in my life. God cannot lie. When I saw myself first and foremost as a student, sorely in need of wisdom, learning at His feet; when I made a daily effort to "feast upon the words of Christ," trusting His promise that they would "tell (me) all things what (I) should do;" I began to see and feel his love and learn his ways, just as every one of His children who seeks him does. I think what amazed me most, and continues to amaze me, was how deeply individual and personal is His teaching method. I guess I was and am learning what Elder Ballard so eloquently taught:
Brothers and sisters, I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God….Sadly, in today’s world, a person’s importance is often judged by the size of the audience before which he or she performs. That is how media and sports programs are rated, how corporate prominence is sometimes determined, and often how governmental rank is obtained...Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, there may be only one size of audience that is of lasting importance—and that is just one, each one, you and me, and each one of the children of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment