‘I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be.’ Charlotte, from the movie Lost in Translation, Focus Features 2003
We have been in Singapore for four months now. Long enough to discover that Singapore has four official languages English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. In case you ever visit Singapore, here is how to say ‘hello’, surely the first basic of communication in any language.
English: Hello, Hi
Chinese (Traditional): 您好
Malay: selamat pagi
Tamil: ஹலோ
How to make sense of it all? You can see just in the writing that these languages are about as different from each other as it is possible to get. As an antidote to all this language stress, over the last forty years Singaporeans have developed their own way of talking called ‘Singlish’ that is English with words from all the other languages thrown in. It helps. Still there are plenty of chances for a conversation to become lost in translation.
Like this. I was trying to book a rather appealing looking package holiday to Beijing yesterday, the holiday (which was being advertised in English) included,
‘A compulsory tour with air-conditioned coach and Mandarin speaking guide: visit Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The National Theatre, Summer Palace, Great Wall of China, Ya Xiu Marketa’
Sounded great until the Travel Agent rather brusquely pointed out that the compulsory tour would be conducted in Mandarin.
Travel Agent: Do you speak Mandarin?
Me: Er, no but we would really like to take the tour, maybe we could just go anyway?
Travel Agent (in a tone that implied I was entirely stupid): I don’t think so!!!
No compulsory tour for us then. There it was, our dream holiday, lost in translation. And there are times when much more important elements in our lives become suddenly impossible or radically difficult to understand; when the doors slam shut, someone moves away from us or dies, a friendship or marriage turns sour, a job becomes impossible, our health fails, we have to start something all over again, we seem unable to say what we want to say, we have no control, we are left out or feel abandoned. In short: we have something special, then it is lost to us.
So how do we make sense of it all? Who or what remains where there is silence where there should be comfort, kindness or a sense of meaning and purpose?
I do not give as the world gives. That is what Jesus said, saying so much in just eight little words. This world can give you loss, hardship, confusion, destruction, exhaustion and decay but I do not give as the world gives.
There are times when we have something special, then it is lost to us. Why not give Him all the parts of your life that are lost in translation right now? Ask Him to take your loss and help you to find purpose and meaning again.
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ John 14 v27, NIV
He believes in you.
Blog Directory
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Claire, I cannot tell you how timely your post is in my life! Right now, things are definitely lost in the translation to me…something (someone) very special was lost to us…After three years, I still cannot make sense of it all. I will do as you suggest. Thank you!
It seems to me that this kind of incomprehensible loss we can only make peace with in time. It is by its very nature beyond us. So good to see your lovely face D.
xC
Dearest Claire
Thanks for putting words to some of what we are going through. I just felt like the Lord was right in front of me speaking those words: I do not give as the world gives. Worlds of comfort to my heart this morning.
Ni hao ma, Claire! Lost in translation indeed. It’s even harder when we speak the same language, eat at the same table, sleep in the same bed…
I think things most familiar can be the hardest to deal with (she said with a wry smile). I’m learning just to take one day at a time. p.s Cathy, great use of Chinese for hello, you see it is possible!
xxC