“It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the cream of the fight; Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival; And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night; And he’s watchin’ us all in the EYYYYYYE of the tiger.” We began our night watching the aging rock band play their hearts out and perform their greatest hit to a sprinkle of fans at the Red River Valley Fair. A group of friends and I decided it was worth going to see the long haired group after learning they were behind the hit song. We enjoyed the song & then left, deciding to wander through the fair for a little while longer. Purposely avoiding the fried dessert stands in an attempt to maintain our waistlines, (fyi – if you haven’t had deep fried cheesecake you are missing out!) we ventured in to the midway to see if we could find anything fun to do.
As we walked around, we discovered that this year’s fair was plain old bizarre. They had crazy carnie games where the player had to toss a plastic ring around a floating goose decoy’s neck to win the prize of a real, living-and-breathing bunny rabbit; creepy clowns smoking cigarettes hollered insults to lure people to pitch a baseball at the dunk tank; and all around the midway were exhibits to come see the world’s smallest horse, or the only woman with the body of a snake, or the world’s tiniest woman.
One by one I noticed people exiting the “tiniest woman” tent, talking about how this person was real and that she truly was pretty tiny. Apparently the tiny woman sat behind a small wall made of painted plywood and all you needed to do was pay a dollar, round the corner, and catch a glimpse of the woman. My heart instantly went out to this woman and I was filled with compassion. I couldn’t imagine being gawked at or pointed and laughed at day in and day out. I wanted her to know that she was made for more than to be an included feature in a carnival and that God had a great plan for her life. So, I paid a dollar, walked into the tent and rounded the corner to see the woman.
Instantly my friends and I could see that the woman was sweet and beautiful and deserved so much more than to sit on a little chair as an exhibit. I bent over, becoming eye level with the tiny woman, said hello, and began to tell her how much the Lord loved her and had a plan for her. After sharing the Lord’s love for her I wrapped it up and waited for some response. With a blank stare, but a large smile, she began to point to something next to her. My eyes quickly moved in that direction until they met up with what the woman was pointing to. A small, cheap looking picture frame held a sign that read “Hello. My name is Lillian. I am from Haiti. I only speak Haitian.” My friends and I smiled, waved good bye, and walked out of the tent knowing she hadn’t understood a word.
I instantly felt disappointed as we exited the small tent, wishing with all my heart that I knew Haitian or at least how to say a few things in Haitian so Lillian could understand the message the Lord had for her. I began to pray that the Lord would put someone in her life that speaks her language, even if she is an exhibit for fairs only in the Midwest.
As I kicked the dusty ground and listened to the echoes of the carnies calling to fair-goers to play their games, the Lord began to speak to my heart. I may not speak Haitian, but he has placed me in different situations where he has allowed me to develop a “language.” As children of God, we’re placed in different environments – welding factories, hospitals, banks, engineering firms, construction companies, retail stores, farms, etc. etc. – where we develop a language that others outside that place may not understand. We’re given acronyms, terminologies, and slang that may mean nothing to anyone else but those who are in the same environment as us. It’s in those environments that we can share the love of God because we have a common language with those around us. We can use everything the Lord has given us to bring and declare His kingdom in our workplaces, homes, and the places where we find ourselves going to over and over.
Joshua 1:3 says “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” I believe that as Christians, we can begin to use the language the Lord has allowed us to develop in order to bring His love & His kingdom to the places where our soles tread. It may mean stepping out and sharing the love of God with your co-worker or it may mean beginning to declare the promises of God wherever you are… (The Holy Spirit will tell you as you seek Him.)
So my challenge to you today is to begin to recognize the “languages” the Lord has given you and to allow the Lord to speak His love and His kingdom through you. Be encouraged that the Lord has a divine plan for you and will use you in mighty ways as you seek Him.
Be blessed!
