English Radio Program

21 October 2008

COMMUNICATION IN OUR TIMES

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

In his book Eyewitnesses to History , Professor John Carey tells how a reporter from the London Times was sent to France to cover the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. At the conclusion of the battle, the reporter rushed back to England by train and ferry boat, staying up all night to write his story.

He had the story, all right. But other newspapers had published it two days before. And how could their reporters have scooped the news of the German victory? Competing reporters had telegraphed their stories--a first which brought the Times reporter face to face with the modern world.

Even in our generation, communication has changed so drastically. One of the best values today is the few coins that it takes to buy a newspaper with information gleaned from around the world. Even better is Internet, which puts you in almost instant touch with developments at home and abroad.

Professor Carey wrote, "The development, within a few short decades, from a situation where most of the inhabitants of the globe would have no day-to-day knowledge of or curiosity about how most of the others were faring, to a situation where the ordinary person's mental space is filled (and must be refilled daily or hourly, unless a feeling of disorientation is to ensue) with accurate reports about the doings of complete strangers, represents a revolution in mental activity which is incalculable in its effects."

A generation ago only two percent of all people had jobs working with words--such as English teachers, editors, journalists and writers. Today, nearly 70% of the work force have something to do with word processing or the flow of information, which includes teaching, writing, computers, secretaries, the media, entertainment, Christian work including Bible translation, and so forth. Computer literacy along with a working knowledge of the internet are now part and parcel of many if not most positions in business and education.

In spite of how many words are written and how much verbiage fills the air, communicating accurately and efficiently is one of our biggest problems today. It's tough to be precisely accurate. That fact was illustrated by some of the comments an insurance adjuster collected from his accident reports. For example, one person wrote, "The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times in order to hit him." Another letter, one addressed to a government official, read, "I am sending you my marriage certificate and six children."

Some of the letters which come to us broadcasters are descriptive but not completely accurate. One lady wrote, "You will never know what your programs have meant to my husband since he lost his mind." But the one that makes you stop and think is the letter which read, "Each one of your programs is better than the next one" which would mean you are progressively running downhill.

While all of us are born with non-verbal communication skills, we have to learn to develop verbal communication skills, and I am convinced that every person can learn to communicate. Why bother? Three reasons: 1.To relate to people, you have to know how to express the thoughts and feelings of your heart. 2. To succeed in our world today demands the ability to communicate ideas and concepts clearly and accurately. 3. To share your faith as a believer, you need to know how to express yourself. It's not a matter of life and death; it's more important than that. Think about it!

Resource reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-4.