Foreign Languages -- Difficult or Not?

Foreign Languages --

Difficult or Not?

In a class, I asked the students which foreign languages they knew.  They responded, “Spanish”, “English”, “Vietnamese”, “French”, “Chinese”, “Japanese”, “Sign-language”.  There are more, but for now these will do.

I said I was going to tell them some they didn’t consider.  I added “math”, and “science”.  They looked quizzically.  I said there are many foreign languages that seem difficult until we learn the clues to understand them.  Then they become easier to comprehend.

I then bring up “faith” as a foreign language because we don’t understand it initially.  We must learn some things about it that help to bridge the gap.  When connections are made, we see things differently.  And so much more is opened up to us

God shows “Aha moments” that reveal something new to us as graces and blessings into our lives.  It is so eye opening that it’s incredible.

Sometimes we are like sponges that soak up knowledge and experiences.  The learning is much easier under these conditions.  Something so foreign to us can be taken in quickly when we are familiar with the material, and are able to put it into a fitting context.  The phrase “Context Connects Value” comes to mind.  When we find context in something, that thing will become valuable to us.