If you don't speak the language . . .

I'm sitting in the Sydney airport, on my way back to the USA! Awhile ago, I was waiting to get on the plane in Port Moresby, and there was a flight to Hong Kong that was supposed to start boarding any minute. But just when it should've started boarding, the Airport Announcer Person announced that the flight had been delayed, and that more information would be available in half an hour. Most of the passengers, however, stood up and got in line to start boarding as soon as the Announcer Person said, "Hong Kong", which leads me to believe that English may perhaps not be the language they understand best. After they had all been standing there patiently for quite some time, probably wondering why they were not being allowed to get on the plane, an Airport Worker came out and motioned for everyone to sit down. So they sat down, and all was quiet again. Until the Announcer Person said, "Now boarding rows 22-30 on the flight to Hong Kong." Once again, as soon as he said, "Hong Kong", nearly every person in the room stood up and got in line. Now, this is not such an unusual phenomenon in airports. We all seem to harbour a secret fear that some crafty person will somehow get on the airplane before we do, sit in the seat that was supposed to be reserved for us, and leave us behind forever. But what happened next was not entirely usual. As the entire crowd pressed forward to board, Announcer Person said over and over again, "Rows 22-30 only, please. Ladies and gentlemen, now boarding rows only rows 22-30. All other rows please take a seat. Rows 22-30 only at this time." Announcer Person made a noble effort, but it was all in vain. The crowd continued to press forward, and one could not help thinking that rows 22-30 must be enormous rows indeed if all those people were going to fit in them. And then it happened. Just as Announcer Person was beginning to sound a bit frantic, someone stood up and, without even using a loudspeaker, spoke a single sentence that worked like magic on the pressing crowd. Most of them immediately sat down, rows 22-30 began boarding, and Announcer Person ceased his frantic instructions. What was that magical sentence? Actually, I have no idea, because it was in a language I don't understand. But most of the passengers headed to Hong Kong understood it, and hearing it spoken in their language made the difference between a confused crowd with no idea what they were supposed to do, and a calm group of people who knew exactly what was going on. Witnessing the chaos that resulted when nobody understood what Airport Announcer Person was saying made me think . . . how much greater is the chaos in so many people's hearts because they can't understand what the Living God is saying.

And they just announced my flight, in the language I understand best, so I'd better go get on the plane myself. Next time you hear from me, I shall be on the other side of the Pacific!