After I graduated, I worked for several years as a sign language interpreter in the public school system. The student I interpreted for was an attractive, well-liked athlete. Though she had a few friends who used sign language with her, I interpreted most every interaction she had with teachers and classmates, as she never used her own voice.
I enjoyed my role there. It allowed me to have an eye and ear into situations I would never have otherwise been invited to: private counseling sessions, high school girlfriend talk, basketball team huddles, and lots of others. But there were some things for which interpreting was nearly impossible. Like pep rallies. Even if I could have understood the words to the music above the deep pounding of bass, it went way too fast. But the words mattered little. It was the music that moved people.
And so this student didn’t need me to interpret the words to the songs. She didn’t need me to tell her that music was playing. She could see evidence of the music in every one of her moving peers. Every person with working ears couldn’t help but respond to the music. And so all she had to do to dance was watch her classmates move around her and follow their lead.
We think we know what it means to change the world, to do big things and small things with good intentions. We know how to act right. We know how to dance. But we don’t always hear the music. Oh to learn what it means to hear and truly listen to the melodic voice of God as he speaks invisible, to be inspired to action from within rather than pressured from without.
All of our listening doesn’t have to look the same. Listening may move me to do something completely different from you. Give yourself permission to impact the world in the unique ways only you can do, and extend grace to those around you to do the same.
Beautifully posed, Emily. Thank you;)
Love these words of yours – “to be inspired to action from within rather than pressured from without” Yes, to that! Really trying to listen and just live the way God asks me to live and not compare my living with the way He has asked someone else to live. And I love how you encourage us to do just that. Thank you, Emily.
There’s nothing like a Deaf worship service. The “music” will rock your world…. and your idea of worship is.
How ironic that we can learn how to listen better from those who can’t hear. God’s so cool like that.
I am hearing but I have Deaf friends, so I picked up ASL to be able to communicate. What I didn’t realize at the time were the whole new ways to worship it opened up to me. I love being able to worship with all that I am and all that I have- my voice, my hands, my body, my facial expressions… I feel like that’s what worship should be: praising the Lord with quite literally everything.
Katie
“Inspired from within rather than pressured from without…” Yes, that’s it. So many things I’ve said yes to that weren’t for me and it crowded out the precious time I had to listen.
Keep writing, friend. I, for one, am drinking it up.
What a lovely thought. I love your site. I think it is important for us to be still to hear to voice of God. We get so caught up in talking, watching, and running around we often don’t hear his voice because we blocked it out with so many other things.
I loved this in your book, and I love reading it again here.
“To be inspired to action from within rather than pressured from without.”
Definitely how I want to live. A life of seeing, listening, and moving.
God is changing people thru you, Emily; including me.
Thank you for being a vessel used by Him.
Beautiful! words, idea, and picture. Thanks.
I’m a little behind with this series but will finish it today. I just wanted to thank you for pouring your beautiful heart and wisdom into every post, truly it’s a series that is a benchmark for excellence; for changing the world.