Once in
northern Arizona, a huge Indian woman visited our Bible class. She gave
no indication she could understand a word of English and apparently came
only because several of her children were enrolled there. But my wife
wanted to welcome her, and so she sat beside her and talked with her for
some time, using an older daughter as an interpreter.
Vivian
would say, "We are so glad you could come to our Bible study." The
daughter would then speak to the mother in the rumbling, softly
explosive language of the Navajo. Mother would reply in kind, and
daughter would say to my wife, "She is happy that you are trying to
teach her children."
Without
waiting for translation, the large Indian woman leaned over and spoke
directly to my wife, "You think so?" Apparently the Navajo mother had
her own reasons for not "understanding" English until interests and
emotions arose that overshadowed the first consideration. I can almost
sense her thoughts: "What does that two-child pale face know about
having a large family?"
And I think
I have seen this philosophy at work among people who just "can't
understand" the word of God. They understand the daily paper, the trade
journals, football statistics, etc., enough to argue with you about any
point of difference there. But through the sermon or in Bible class they
are politely indifferent, with an attitude of "I'll take your word for
it it's all over my head."
Until you
hit close to home, something that really matters to them then they come
to life with feelings hurt or swinging their pet Scriptures about as
though they were full time debaters. They need your help on every-thing
except money, marriage, and masonry or whatever touches home. Then,
"Forget the translator, Sir, you are singing my song."
This went
on for some time until my wife asked, "How many children have you?" The
daughter answered, "Eighteen!" This caught my wife a bit off guard. She
hesitated a moment, and then said to the daughter, "Tell her it must be
wonderful to have such a large family."
Other
Articles by Robert F. Turner
If I Had But One Sermon
Prayer and Fasting
Local Church is no Sham
Those "Other" Sinners
A Bit of Methodist History on
Instrumental Music
Careful to Answer
A Man Called David
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