They built a wall around their yard…

A fence, really…

But a tall fence totally enclosing their property.

No one could see over it or through it.

Everyone wondered what happened inside the fence.

Older children scared their siblings with stories of ghostly happening inside the fence.

Adults gossiped.

Then one day, our new neighbors surprised everyone by emerging from behind their fence to attend a party.

They nodded politely…

Made a little small talk…

But mostly talked to each other.

In another language…French.

Layer upon layer of mystery.

Were they French?

Had they lived in France?

I wanted to ask them…

But they gave off a “don’t talk to me” vibe…

So I asked the only neighbor who knew them at all.

He chuckled.

“No,” he said, “they learned to speak another language so they could have private conversations in front of other people.”

Oh.

Their second language was a language of exclusion.

How different from the language God wants us to speak…

The most inclusive language of all…

The language of love…

… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:39

A language God first shared with us…

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

And now commands us to share with others…

“A new command I give you: Love one another…  John 13:34

… Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…Matthew 5:44 

Love…

The language that leaps walls…

Crosses property lines…

And trespasses into our hearts…

Changing everyone who receives it…

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love….

The language of God…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Note: The original version of this post was written long before the topic of walls became part of the political debate.  Its purpose? To remind us of the walls we build around our hearts when we fail to share God’s love.