The Way of the Heart

These days it is next to impossible to live even one day without seeing, hearing,or using the woad "communication". But once we take time and begin to think what real "communication" is, we get nowhere.  What is the communication, to begin with?  Is there good communication or bad communication?  If there is a good communicator, what is the criteria to tell the good one and bad one?  It might be almost impossible to find a clear definition.

Well, a small, personal experience I had more than fifteen years ago, would give us an hint toward a big question, "What is communication"?

In 1990, my younger son and I were spending our holiday in a small village in the eastern part of France during the Christmas period. The final day of our stay happened to be Christmas Eve.

As you might know, the Mass of Christmas Eve is usually held at midnight. So when the Mass was over and we went out of the old Gothic church building, it was after midnight.

The sky was clear, so many stars were shining in the dark night, and, yes, everything around us was just "Christmas". We liked the atmosphere of the Christmas time of the village very much, except one thing: temperature!!

The air was so clear and shivering cold.

A grown-up, I was OK, but I felt very sorry for my younger son who was just eight years old.

I looked around to fine a restaurant or cafe where we could get something hot to drink. But it was such a late time that no shops were open.

But just then we were lucky enough to find a cart just in front of the church building with a bit sign of "Hot Chocorate!" on the top of it.

My son and I dashed to the cart.  Inside the cart there was a young girl doing some dishes.  As I didn't understand French at all, with gestures asked her to give us two cups of hot chocolate.

The young girl was so kind as to give us such big size of cups of chocolate.

In the small village, in the dark, silent night, and hot chocolate... we felt so happy with the young lady seeing my son, smiling that we felt we became just one!

I pull out my wallet and was going to pay for the chocolate, the young girl said to us.

"No, no, you don't have to pay. Tonight is the Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve everything should be a present. The chocolate is a small present from me to you and your son.  Have a nice Christmas and have a nice journey!!"

We felt happy again hearing this, and said, "Thank you very much. The same to you!. Good night!"

We turned around and began walking toward our guesthouse.

A few seconds later, I realized something strange had happened...

Yes, that young girl said so, I am sure, but WHAT language did she use then?

The village we were in was located close to the border with Germany, so she must have spoken in French with a strong German accent, which language I did not understand at all.

But..but, she said so!   Or was that all my imagination?

In order to make sure, I ask my eight-year old boy.

"My dear, what language did that kind girl speak to us?"

He answered simply,

"Papa, I don't know. But she is so kind, and said to us 'You don't have to pay for the chocolate and have a nice Christmas!  I like her very much!"

Yes, there WAS communication between us, without any common language. There really was communication between us!

How come it was possible?

The answer is "The Way of the Heart."

No matter how many words use, no matter how elaborate expressions we use, without The Way of the Heart, no communication is possible. No communication is satisfactory.

Why?

Because it is LOVE!

Such is the Way of the Heart!