Telegraphing

I have been listening to Louisa May Alcott’s books.
I had read Little Women when I was in school and re read it a few years ago.
Hearing the books, read in their entirety, was a special experience.
Obviously, the stories take place in a different era, but there are many similarities.

Listening to Little Men, Old Fashioned Girl, and Rose in Bloom, I enjoyed the characters.
Women are women, despite the era.
Friendships are deep, when they are based on the things that matter.
Friendships are superficial when they are based on frivolous things.

I heard the expression, and they telegraphed to each other.
Often, that would mean that two women communicated with their eyes from across the room.
Two women could relay an entire message with a raised eyebrow.
Without a word, the matter was decided.

I smiled when I heard that expression because I know it’s true.
When the situation doesn’t allow words, a simple look will do.
Sitting across the room from each other, telegraphing does indeed take place.
I do think it is an ability in which women are experts.

I sat and watched such telegraphing take place at church.
It was between two women, but they were at least two generations apart in age.
One was an older woman, probably ten to fifteen years older than me.
The other was a little girl.

The older woman walks with a cane.
She was sitting by herself.
A young family came into church and sat in the front.
The little girl and the older woman telegraphed to each from across the sanctuary.

As quick as a flash, the little girl came to sit with the older woman.
She left her own family in the front and joined her friend.
As we sat for a few preparation songs before the service, the little girl sang along.
I don’t know if she knew all the words, but she was trying her best.

The words were on the screen up front but she didn’t need them.
She watched the older woman intently.
She mouthed the words along with the woman as best she could.
The older woman must have looked down at her and smiled, because the little girl smiled back.

I thought about the fact that much of what children learn is caught as well as taught.
There was no lesson in rhythm or timing and no rehearsing of lyrics.
There was simply a little girl watching someone that she trusted.
She was learning from the older woman’s example.

The little girl sat as close as she could to the older woman.
The woman’s cane was hung over the pew in front of her.
After the preparation songs were sung, the little girl rushed back to her family.
They knew she was safe and secure all along as she sat next to this precious woman.

The older helped the younger.
The younger helped the older.
Worship was the means.
Jesus, the glue that held them together.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
(1 Peter 3:3,4)

They were an unlikely pair.
Yet, no two people could have been more suited for each other.
The little girl looked back at the woman after she returned to sit with her family.
Telegraphing took place in the sanctuary.

It was wonderful.
It was such an example of the older teaching the younger.
It was such a lesson in modeling and mentoring.
It is the gift of the generations worshiping together.

Imagine the telegraphing we can do in our churches.
A waggle of the eyebrow to invite someone to sit with you.
A smile from across the room just to let someone know they’re not alone.
A hand raised in worship, or extended in need.

Our faith is a Word based faith.
Our actions, one to another, can speak volumes without a word.
Older to younger, younger to older…we are all watching and learning.
Let’s telegraph truth and a hospitable spirit, one to another for His Glory and our good.