“Um, How Do I Say This?” By Onyx Conklin
Yassou! Kalimera! Kanèla!
Those were my first three words I learned my first day in Greece. Yassou is one of many ways to greet a person—similar to hello, hola, or aloha. Kalimera is my favorite word and means “good day or good morning!” And kanèla is an important word at the coffee bar because Greek cappuccino tastes divine with kanèla aka cinnamon! At the time of this writing I am still learning Greek. It’s an interesting language because the Greeks have their own alphabet. While some of their 24 letters resemble our English letters, the pronunciation and grammar rules dance to their own beat as if they themselves were Zorba the Greek! But you see, I have a very important reason for committing myself to learning this ancient language. PEOPLE! I have made dear friends in Greece, some of whom speak no English. As words are the most important thing in my world, I will not be outmaneuvered by language barriers. Let me tell you about my Greeks.
One of the draws to Greece is the lifestyle. Greeks work vigorously, pause for a little midday snooze, wake up and work some more, and then enjoy late nights by the sea with food so good you’d think it mirrors Heave. This is no different in Kalamata Greece where my Uncle Spiro is from and where we spent time. Most evenings we spent down at a seaside cafe talking long into the night. Closing time is really only a suggestion. It was here I got to know Giorgos (George), Dora, and Harri. The three are brothers and sister and they are cousins to my Uncle Spiro. Spiro speaks fluent Greek and English, Giorgos speaks several languages having traveled the world working on boats, and Harri and Dora speak only Greek. Okay, so exclusively English-speaking Onyx would have a problem here. Because though I’m a hand-swooshing Italian communicator, even my hands can’t illustrate verbally what my thoughts wish to convey. The only thing we had was Spiro and Giorgos to translate between me, Harri, and Dora. Sure, Uncle could translate the words but could he express the heart and antics that I’m known for? See the problem? Oh, but surely this was not how this was gonna go down!
It quickly became evident that Harri and I were class clowns in school and we are both hilarious and demonstrative. Just picture that “I Love Lucy” episode with Lucy and Harpo Marx—no words, plenty of laughs! Harri and I became determined to communicate and we quickly found a bond in that just by being willing to look a little foolish and get a lot of laughs in with some wild hand gesturing, we could get the other to understand. I wish I could show you some of the delightful videos I recorded of this. These were my absolute favorite nights in Greece. We all talked, laughed, hugged, kissed each other’s faces (yes, the Greeks are an affectionate people), and had great conversations. I never once had the feeling I was an outsider. In fact, I felt more included because of the depths everyone went through to help me understand.
When I flew back to Texas (feeling grateful but really blue), Spiro text me and told me how much everyone loved me and how wonderful they thought I was, (that was all you Jesus, I’m just a cracked vessel you spill out of at times.) You don’t have to speak the same language to reveal your heart and love for people. I realized that next time I go back, I want to meet them halfway and know the language. Pray for me to learn Greek and not confuse my verbs! Seriously though, I want to build a bridge between us. As I mentioned Spiro can translate my words but he cannot capture my heart in those words. I must express myself and I’m doing that currently by learning to write Greek, while I learn to speak it.
There is always a lesson Jesus wants me to learn in these things. You see Israel had the law, the written code, the playbook of God, but even though they had His words, they didn’t fully experience His heart. It truly became at times a translation of words not a revelation of His love. So God sent Jesus into the world to share the heart of the Father. We know John 3:16 so well and how it begins; that God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus. That’s the opening line of a very powerful verse. Salvation was the ultimate goal but He spent 33 years being a representation of God the Father. He didn’t just speak the words, He revealed the heart. And it’s that same heart in all of us as believers. He wants us to reveal God’s heart through His Word, by the ultimate communicator, the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t want us to spout facts but to be a vessel to deliver His heart. The great thing is Jesus has literally no language barriers, although His humor far exceeds Harri and me, or even the great Lucille Ball for that matter. And that my friends means our spiritual passports are ready to be stamped and often. So to put it in Greek terms, PAME—let’s go!
Blessings to all you readers out there and I wish you much, as the Greeks say, “S’agapo” (love)!
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