Communication

Communication challenges me. It seems like the harder I try to communicate my true feelings and intents with my coworkers, friends and strangers, the less they understand where I am coming from sometimes.

Words are tricky. So are phrases and sayings. They mean different things to everyone. A word or saying that I think of as positive and complimentary may have that meaning to me for a myriad of reasons: my background, the culture I was raised in, the town I grew up in, an inside joke I had with my friends in high school, a movie I saw, a book I read, a second language I know, my religious upbringing and so on. Such a word or saying, however, may not have a positive meaning for someone with whom I am conversing.

Have you ever caught a coworker or friend looking at you as if you are rude because of something you said that you thought was friendly or kind? Have you ever made a comment, laughed and then had to backpedal through a quick explanation of what you were actually trying to say in order to reclaim you reputation as a personable person? Maybe I need to care less about how others understand my communication. Yet I think I should care more because communication is the foundation of any relationship.

I wonder if Jesus Christ understood the shortcomings and power of languages? I believe He did. He told us, "Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt though swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Mat. 5:34-37).

I often remember a piece of advice my Organic Chemistry professor shared with our class: "Remember to KISS. That stands for Keep It Simple Stupid." Simplicity may be the answer to my communication challenges.