The Silent Language

Longshoremen, construction guys, and football players all have one thing in common.  Obviously not all from each group do it, but in this rough and tumble world we live in these groups are recognized as speaking a common language--trash talking.  The language they use isn't silent at all.  Nor is the language we Christians use as go about our daily lives trying to live up to biblical standards and allow the light within us shine, that others may see. 

There is, however, a language that is silent.  It is unspoken, and yet it is very obvious and telling of the person "speaking" it.  That would be body language.  As Christians we need to be aware of this.  We need to be vigilant of the body language of others as we cross paths with them during the course of our days.  It is their body language that will indicate, more than anything, what is really going on in their hearts, souls, and minds.  If we realize that many others, ourselves included at times, put on masks to hide what is really going on in their lives, we can also realize that body language is not really "maskable" and we can tune in to whether that person may be hurting, lonely or lost.  Body language's most visible tell is another persons face.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones shared a gem about body language:

"The face you have from birth to age 25 is the face you were born with;

the face you have from 25 to age 50 is the face you earn;

and, the face you have from 50 on is the face you deserve."

There's a lot of difference between a consistently happy face, and a face that is trying to hide the struggles behind it.  There's a lot of difference between a face showing contentment and a face showing resentment, between a face showing love and compassion and a face showing bitterness.

Bottom Line Thought:  Faces speak the silent language.  How good are you at hearing that language?  As a Christian, are you tuned in and willing to help those others who may need those few encouraging words of kindness you can offer?