The Universal Language
It probably won’t be until the end of your second four-year term that you will begin to feel comfortable speaking Japanese,” a veteran missionary told me shortly after I arrived in Japan. “Eight years?!” I thought to myself, as I politely smiled and thanked him. “What have I gotten myself into?” Unsatisfied with his answer, I proceeded to ask other missionaries and people who had lived in Japan for many years when they began to feel comfortable speaking Japanese. While some gave shorter times, my heart was still restless. Language school commenced and tears soon followed. I was unprepared for how difficult learning to speak Japanese would be. I cried out to God, “Help me God, or I am not going to last.”
Looking back, I realize I came to Japan believing a lie — I had to speak Japanese fluently before I could really show God’s love or be useful to God. I believed I had to be able to preach in Japanese before I would be effective. I thought speaking with fluency would be the most powerful way I could communicate God’s love. I asked God why I had to learn such a difficult language. In time, God began to answer my questions and revealed a profound but simple truth.
I don’t need to be fluent in Japanese to show God’s love. I don’t even need to be particularly good. I simply need to show them Jesus. I remember one of the first times I began to understand this. One morning, I passed a homeless man near a train station. I felt compassion but was paralyzed to help him. I saw him again the next day. My heart grew restless. I wanted to help him but how could I? I was still in the beginner Japanese class. I asked God to show me how to love him. Matthew 25:35–40 came to mind.
The following day, I prepared a bag with some food, fruit drinks, money, a brochure to my church, and a Japanese Bible. I headed out, praying for courage as I walked. I soon approached his usual spot. I knelt down and our eyes met. Hopelessness, fatigue, and despair hid behind his faint smile. I proceeded to use the little Japanese I knew and asked his name and told him mine. I then explained I had a gift and gently handed him my care-bag. He took it, surprised but thankful. I then shared that Jesus loves him very much. He smiled and thanked me, and I rose and left, thankful for the opportunity. I have not seen him there since that day.
I don’t share this story to brag about my humanitarian efforts for the poor. I share this story as an encouragement. There are countless ways we can show love without being fluent in Japanese. Whether it is towards a co-worker, neighbor, or local shop-keeper, we all have people in our lives we can reach out to. Love is the universal language. You can still love those around you, without being fluent in Japanese. To be clear, I still advocate learning Japanese to the best of your ability—the long-term investment required to learn the Japanese language can be an expression of our love and commitment to those with whom we seek to share Jesus’ love. But no matter what stage you are at in learning Japanese, remember that love can transcend words.
“If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noise” (1 Corinthians 13:1; TLB).
May love be the language we use to communicate.
“Love” graphic designed by Anton Håkanson from the thenounproject.com