When we got home, J and I were laying bed just before he fell asleep. "Mom," he said, "do you know how to say 'tag' in the language those kids speak?" I did not. He told me. Then he told me the different words for tag the name of the game and "tag" as in "you're it, I tagged you." The kids ran around all evening playing and laughing and sharing many common points. Language was a barrier for them to talk much but that was about the only barrier. They touched each other, they smiled and laughed and danced and sang together. They even wanted to go to the kids' "houses" when we adults were uncomfortable even going into one of the rooms when at the end we all sang together before we left. I long to break down those barriers and not let language get in the way. I can't speak every language. I can't really even speak much beyond my own language and Spanish and even that is sometimes a challenge. But as I've been watching the kids and thinking about it more in light of these different experiences, I know we can break down the language barrier in other ways. We can see people for who they are. We can acknowledge their existence and love them even just with a smile or a touch when they are all but abandoned entirely.
This is what Jesus did. This is what I long to do. This is what brought me great joy last night in observing in my children. Today look around and see those in your world. Break down barriers in your corner of the world. You might be surprised at what you see!