BODY LANGUAGE

          What we say and how we speak are important.  The apostle Paul exhorts, Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Col.4:5).  Yet those who are specialists in the field of communication often stress the importance on non-verbal communication.  Body language often does a better job of “speaking” than words.  Where we sit; how we sit; gestures and movements of the body often silently communicate a wide range of attitudes - - apathy or approval; satisfaction or discontent; joy or disdain.  Media experts are well aware of the fact that humans are frequently more stimulated by visual symbols than by auditory sounds.  I’m wondering, WHAT KIND OF BODY LANGUAGE ARE WE EMITTING?

          In our weekly gatherings as The Body Of Christ (1Cor.12:17), we often witness much positive body language especially in the form of genuine smiles, friendly handshakes and warm hugs.  This is as it should be.  Jim Howard, one of my beloved professors from my college days at Harding University, excelled at making eye contact.  His body language assured you that he was tuned in to what you were saying.  Brother Howard has expounded a bit concerning some of the negative body language found in the church:  chronic tardiness; empty seats; the absence of helping hands.  He writes, “This body language characteristic so disturbed one lady that she waited several months to place membership with us because of what she interpreted the empty seats to be saying…”  Perhaps this thought can help us realize that we are speaking even when we are absent.  Sadly, our absence sometimes speaks volumes!