Diane Dunn

Language and Understanding

There are words and there is meaning beyond words – a literal language and the language of the senses. Kiara, my soul, has been speaking with me this past month, using the language of the heart, along with these codes. When I am listening carefully, I understand her with an inner sense of knowing, of perceiving. Then with trust, I can translate those feelings into words.

In our everyday life, the literal language we use is understood through our facial expressions and intonations as much as the meaning of the words themselves. I am grateful for that because I live in a land whose language I speak and understand only in a basic way. My Spanish vocabulary is probably less than a quarter of the words I know in English.

This week I was speaking with my carpenter, a local from Pisac, as he was fixing my kitchen door. I met his wife and children three years ago when he was part of the construction team building my house. I knew they had lost a young child last year so I asked him how his wife was doing.

He told me she was two months pregnant but there was some problem with the child’s brain. I didn’t understand the exact nature of the problem but could see a decision needed to be made about whether or not to continue the pregnancy. He said that neither the doctor, nor their pastor could tell them what to do – only his wife could decide. Stunned by his calmness and concerned for them both, I shared with him the contact of a Spanish-speaking therapist I know, hoping his wife would reach out to share her feelings about making this difficult decision.

After some time passed in silence, he turned to me and asked, “Why do you think things like this happen?” My heart ached to respond in a meaningful way. I would have struggled to find the right words in English but I felt hopelessly inadequate to share in the language he knew. Knowing he was a member of a local church, I said in Spanish, “I don’t know Daniel but I think it is important to have faith in a power greater than us, offering assistance in our times of need.” I reached out to hug him and felt him relax in my arms as he held me tightly for a moment whispering, “Gracias”.

Kiara’s Pearl for me today, was a reminder the most important language we can learn and become fluent in, is the language of the heart.

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