interesting read

A friend tipped me off to this interesting article by Barbara King titled, Jared Diamond, A New Guinea Campfire, And Why We Should Want To Speak Five Languages.

This from one of the final paragraphs about a Canadian study of Alzheimer's disease in monolingual vs. bilingual patients:

"Bilingual patients," Diamond concludes, "suffer less cognitive impairment than do monolingual patients with the same degree of brain atrophy: bilingualism offers partial protection against the consequence of brain atrophy." The reason? The brain of a bilingual person "is constantly having to decide" to speak, think, or comprehend sounds in one or the other language.

Fascinating! I enjoyed both the article itself, and the comments below it from readers. In my travels, I constantly meet many Deaf people who know many more languages (both spoken/written and signed) than I do.

blessed perspective

"For all the wickedness in the world that man may do or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live coal dropped into the sea." (W. Langland)

"Cruelty [evil] and wrong are not the greatest forces in the world. There is nothing eternal in them. Only love is eternal." (E. Elliot)

"...at the sound of Your Great Name..."

The opening session of Urbana 2012, we sang this song together. But... I could not sing. My throat closed and my eyes filled with tears, as I felt heavy pressure start building in my soul.... my body in a room full of Hearing people singing at the top of their voices, but my mind was miles away...

I love this song. It is full of truth. Divine realities. The whole premise based on the power of HEARING the SOUND of Jesus' name.

Yet, every time I hear it, I'm thrown into a mental battle of making it relevant in my world. HOW do you translate this song into the Deaf world? HOW can it be contextualized to be relevant to a Deaf mind?

This may not be a perfect interpretation but, when I see it, I no longer feel like you have to be hearing to be able to experience the power of Jesus' name. Because another reality is... you don't.

The Young Victoria

I haven't heard of "GK Films" before... but thoroughly enjoyed their 2009 film about the early years of England's Queen Victoria. Here's the link to watch the UK trailer. I enjoyed the interactions between all the different parties trying to manipulate each other to get their own way, with a great performance by Emily Blunt (Victoria).

One of my favorite exchanges was this quiet conversation between young Victoria and Prince Albert as they are playing a game of chess... while their "handlers" look on...

Victoria: Do you ever feel like a chess piece yourself? In a game being played against your will?

Albert: Do you?

Victoria: Constantly! I see them leaning in and moving me around the board.

Albert: The Duchess and Sir John?

Victoria: *shakes her head slightly* Not just them. Uncle Leopold. The King. I'm sure half the politicians are ready to seize hold of my skirts and drag me from square to square. *chuckles*

Albert: *thoughtfully* Then you had better master the rules of the game until you can play it better than they can.

Victoria: You don't recommend I find a husband to play it for me?

Albert: I should find one to play it with you, not for you.

Victoria: ... You know the King wants me to marry my cousin George...

Albert: Hmmmm...... what's he like at chess? *takes out her bishop with his queen*

the Harvester

...within this tapestry of grace...

Oh grant me wisdom from above,
To pray for peace and cling to love,
And teach me humbly to receive
The sun and rain of Your sovereignty.
Each strand of sorrow has a place
Within this tapestry of grace;
So through the trials I choose to say:
"Your perfect will in Your perfect way."

(c) Keith & Kristyn Getty, Hymn: The Perfect Wisdom of Our God