It's not what you say...

But the way that you say it!

These past three weeks in the States has been encouraging and inspiring. Never before has my accent caused such joy or confusion, nor have I been responsible for corrupting or improving the language of another. The use of "wee" for little has increased, sweets instead of candy, or saying "I fancy doing that/having that" now bounce about in First Presbyterian Church Morganton. We are picking up some of the drawl and the occasional y'all! I have been told that I could recite nursery rhymes instead of preach and get away with it.

Sunday 19th we had Christmas in July and we thought about how God through Jesus made himself accessible. Jesus the Word became flesh - God was now to be found in a language we could all understand - humanity. And not the regal, unattainable, posh language but the common language understood by shepherds and angels, by wise men and teenagers Mary and Joseph, and still feared by Kings.

I am sure there is some being lost in translation here. We nod along and hope we catch the jist of it. And for some it is like that with God. Somewhere along the line God's language of love and presence gets lost in translation. We think we have the jist of it but what we really hear is the judgement or condemnation. And nobody wants that.  Jesus is God incarnate - God with us, one of us.  And Jesus speaks our language - whether it be Scottish or American or something right different!

If you think you might be losing something in translation, perhaps now would be a good time to take a breath, find a version of the Bible that is accessible to you (there are loads out there) and read through a Gospel. Mark is good for those who like to dive right in there, Matthew and Luke for the details and historical aspects, and John for the deep thinkers, philosophical types. The styles are different but Christ is the same.

Just take a wee bit time and make sure y'all listen good. Jesus speaks your language loud and clear!
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John1:1

Bless y'all big yuns and weans!
Love Pastor Sarah (which when my kids say it sounds like Pasta Sarah)