The Language of the Heart
Posted: February 27th, 2011, 12:49 pm
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things that move and motivate us. I’ve been thinking about what it is to communicate with one another “as deep calls out to deep.” I’ve been thinking about the language of our hearts.
Before you say there is no such thing, ask yourself: “What moves me?” Go ahead and think about it. What are the themes that touch you? What are the words, that when woven together into the tapestry and melody of song and story, that really move you?
It’s the intimacy whispered between lovers, the hopes shared between friends; the dreams given life in the familiarity of family. The language of the heart is more than just words. It’s a feeling. It’s a stirring in the depths of your heart that awakens the most ancient of emotions within you.
It’s not found in emoticons and Emails. And it’s certainly not hidden in texts, chats, and Facebook posts. No, it’s so much more than that. It’s spoken with a tender touch. It’s carried on the most moving of melodies. It’s shouted in shared laughter and it’s whispered in wonderful whimsy. The language of the heart is the key, that when found, opens the innermost places of our souls. And it’s something that when lost, leaves us tragically incomplete.
The language of the heart allows a wink to speak volumes and a smile to rival a sunrise. It allows a look to say what words cannot express and what a thousand I-Love-You’s will never convey. When you hear the language of your heart you know you’re loved. It says that you are home. It says that you belong. It says that dreams do come true and hope is worth having. When you hear it, you know all is well and everything will be okay.
And now we come back to the question, “What moves you?” As you think about that for just a moment, let me share with you what I have learned about the language of my heart.
Mine is whimsical; it’s the language spoken in the land of “Just Because” (you know you’ve arrived there when you ask, “Why did you do that for me?” and the answer is, “Just because…”).
Mine is full of laughter. Not the ‘shoot milk out of your nose’ kind of silliness (but that’s funny stuff too!) but the ‘I can’t believe life is this good to me’ kind of joy.
Mine is romantic and sensitive and yet strong and full of passion. Do you want to know a secret? I’ve learned lately that I really like chick-flicks. Crazy, huh? But a good story really moves me and I love to watch the dance of others as they learn the language of their hearts.
Mine is also full of music. My heart soars with the lyrics of a soulful ballad. If you really want to speak to me, use a song. If you really want me to grasp what you want to pass along, put it with a melody. My heart speaks in the form of music; I can’t help but catch on if my heart can sing it.
Mine thrives in friendship. I’ve never been wounded in my life as much as I have at the hands of friends. But I also have never been loved quite like I have been by the hearts of friends.
Sadly, I believe that we are living in a time in which the language of the heart is a dying language. In linguistics, the definition of a dead language is one that is no longer fluently spoken. We have learned to speak logically and contemplatively all the while forgetting how to speak passionately and poetically. But we can change all of that if we will just take the time to listen, to share, and to love with our hearts.
And so I encourage you today to think less with your head and more with your heart. Take a deep breath. Smile more. Laugh longer. Rent a chick-flick. Listen to some music. Cry a bit and love a lot more. Your heart will thank you.
Before you say there is no such thing, ask yourself: “What moves me?” Go ahead and think about it. What are the themes that touch you? What are the words, that when woven together into the tapestry and melody of song and story, that really move you?
It’s the intimacy whispered between lovers, the hopes shared between friends; the dreams given life in the familiarity of family. The language of the heart is more than just words. It’s a feeling. It’s a stirring in the depths of your heart that awakens the most ancient of emotions within you.
It’s not found in emoticons and Emails. And it’s certainly not hidden in texts, chats, and Facebook posts. No, it’s so much more than that. It’s spoken with a tender touch. It’s carried on the most moving of melodies. It’s shouted in shared laughter and it’s whispered in wonderful whimsy. The language of the heart is the key, that when found, opens the innermost places of our souls. And it’s something that when lost, leaves us tragically incomplete.
The language of the heart allows a wink to speak volumes and a smile to rival a sunrise. It allows a look to say what words cannot express and what a thousand I-Love-You’s will never convey. When you hear the language of your heart you know you’re loved. It says that you are home. It says that you belong. It says that dreams do come true and hope is worth having. When you hear it, you know all is well and everything will be okay.
And now we come back to the question, “What moves you?” As you think about that for just a moment, let me share with you what I have learned about the language of my heart.
Mine is whimsical; it’s the language spoken in the land of “Just Because” (you know you’ve arrived there when you ask, “Why did you do that for me?” and the answer is, “Just because…”).
Mine is full of laughter. Not the ‘shoot milk out of your nose’ kind of silliness (but that’s funny stuff too!) but the ‘I can’t believe life is this good to me’ kind of joy.
Mine is romantic and sensitive and yet strong and full of passion. Do you want to know a secret? I’ve learned lately that I really like chick-flicks. Crazy, huh? But a good story really moves me and I love to watch the dance of others as they learn the language of their hearts.
Mine is also full of music. My heart soars with the lyrics of a soulful ballad. If you really want to speak to me, use a song. If you really want me to grasp what you want to pass along, put it with a melody. My heart speaks in the form of music; I can’t help but catch on if my heart can sing it.
Mine thrives in friendship. I’ve never been wounded in my life as much as I have at the hands of friends. But I also have never been loved quite like I have been by the hearts of friends.
Sadly, I believe that we are living in a time in which the language of the heart is a dying language. In linguistics, the definition of a dead language is one that is no longer fluently spoken. We have learned to speak logically and contemplatively all the while forgetting how to speak passionately and poetically. But we can change all of that if we will just take the time to listen, to share, and to love with our hearts.
And so I encourage you today to think less with your head and more with your heart. Take a deep breath. Smile more. Laugh longer. Rent a chick-flick. Listen to some music. Cry a bit and love a lot more. Your heart will thank you.