I’ve driven a pickup truck most of my life. I always giggle a little when I drive into a commercial area and see this sign. I know what it means — it is referring to big commercial trucks, but that is not what it says. If I were to get pulled over, I could put up a pretty good argument that I was obeying the sign. I am driving a truck. The sign doesn’t say tractor trailer or box truck or delivery truck — it says truck. My registration says I have a truck!
We are caught in these dilemmas often — instructions that aren’t clear but we are supposed to know the ‘meaning’. Often times, the ‘meaning’ is cultural. It may be a language difference. It may also be simple poor communication.
My wife married into a cultural/religious tradition. She was raised American Baptist and married into the Mennonite culture. She was arguing with a director at our children’s Mennonite school, and the director finally got frustrated and said, “You should talk to your husband, he will understand.”
Miscommunication and not understanding what the sign ‘means’ can cause frustration, anger, and disappointment. Religion may not be clear to you, but a personal walk with God can set that straight.
Numbers 12:8
With him I (God) speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles.
missiontomission 