Silent Signs of Grace

Silent Signs of Grace

“In life's confusion, God's signs light the way. Like BSL empowers the Deaf, they guide us to rescue. Let's grasp onto hope, celebrate resilience, and find strength in His constant love.”

Signs of Distress

In the quiet of late evening, a middle-aged woman exited the weekly social club. Deaf and with a severe speech impairment, this gathering was her lifeline. Despite her challenges, she was confident and held an optimistic view of others. This confidence allowed her to walk home alone, undeterred by the darkness and the empty suburban streets.

On this particular night, an unwanted shadow began to tail her. Before she knew it, the shadow seized its opportunity, violently knocking her down and grabbing her handbag, which held her purse and a significant amount of cash.

She had been violently robbed!

Alone, with knees scraped and bleeding, she mustered her strength and stood up. Desperate for assistance, she faced a dilemma – who could she turn to? The Deaf club was shut, and her friends, who communicated in British Sign Language (BSL), had already left. Unable to call out for help because of her speech impediment, she stumbled upon a nearby takeaway restaurant that was still open. However, the server there only spoke Chinese and couldn't understand or speak English!

So, here was the predicament: a Deaf lady with a severe speech impairment. The only available help was a restaurant owner who spoke Chinese, meaning she wouldn't be able to communicate the details of the robbery to the police.

The Deaf victim of the robbery improvised, using a restaurant menu to jot down a few words. Eventually, the Chinese lady understood that the police needed to be called. It's important to highlight that the victim primarily used British Sign Language (BSL), not English. BSL is a distinct and nuanced language separate from English. Therefore, if you received an email or note from someone who exclusively uses BSL, it might read like it was written by a young child with limited vocabulary and grammar skills. An example from A BSL user who knows some English might read like this - "Hi, I want meeting tomorrow 3pm. Place library ok? Thanks."

This isn't indicative of the individual's intelligence or capability but rather reflects their proficiency as a non-English user, similar to the situation with the Chinese restaurant owner.

Hands That Speak: The Triumphs and Trials of the Deaf

In life's big story, there's this powerful theme about right and wrong, forgiveness, and how God steps in when things go astray. It all began in Eden, where everything was perfect until this crafty serpent messed it all up, leading us down the wrong path.

But God didn't leave us stranded. He sent clear signs, messages of love and hope, to guide us back to Him. Just like Jesus came to show us God's love in person, British Sign Language (BSL) emerged to give the Deaf community a voice and a sense of pride.

You see, Deaf people faced some tough times when some folks thought they weren't as smart. They'd shout at them, thinking it would help them learn. But that was just plain wrong.

BSL changed all that. It became a powerful symbol of hope and strength, much like Jesus showing us God's love. When BSL finally gained recognition as a proper language in 2003, it was a monumental victory. It showed everyone that Deaf culture and language deserved respect.

But even though things improved, there are still hurdles. Deaf individuals still encounter barriers and prejudice. Yet, they persist, demonstrating their resilience and pride.

So, let's honour the journey of the Deaf community. Let's be inclusive, compassionate, and understanding. And let's celebrate the beauty of diversity, just as we celebrate the story of God's love and redemption. Because just like His story, the journey of the Deaf community through BSL is one of hope, strength, and triumph.

From Eden to Easter - Signs of Grace

Throughout our civilised history, there's a big story about sin, forgiveness, and God stepping in. It all started when innocence got stolen in the garden of Eden. In the shadowy depths of Eden, sin struck with violent force, like a thief in the night, robbing Adam and Eve of their innocence. The serpent, cunning and deceitful, launched a ruthless assault, plunging humanity into darkness and despair.

This robbery of innocence echoed through the ages, impacting every generation that followed. The serpent tricked us, and things went downhill from there. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, God didn't ditch us. Instead, He kicked off a rescue plan, showing us signs to find our way back to Him: Genesis 3 v 1-7 (NKJV paraphrase) "In a garden, a cunning serpent asked a woman if she was forbidden from eating any fruit in the garden. She explained they could eat from any tree except one in the middle, or they might die. The serpent assured her that they wouldn't die; instead, they would gain knowledge of good and evil, just like the creator. Tempted by the promise of wisdom, the woman ate the fruit and gave some to her husband, who also ate it. Suddenly, they realised they were naked and covered themselves with fig leaves."

God's been talking to us in different ways since forever. For those who can't hear, He speaks through sign language. In the same way, He's sent us clear signs throughout history, showing His endless love and mercy: John 1 v 14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

The biggest sign was when Jesus came. He was God's own Son, born as a baby, living among us with love and kindness. His time on earth was full of amazing miracles, proving He was God's guy. John 10 v 30 " I and My Father are one."

The most powerful sign was when Jesus died on the cross. He took on all our wrongs, showing us just how much He loves us. 1 Peter 2 v 24 "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed."

But it didn't end there. Jesus came back to life! His empty tomb showed us that death couldn't hold Him down. Sin was beaten, and hope was back on track. Jesus even showed up to His pals to prove He was alive and kicking. Matthew 28 v 5-6 "But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.'"

God made sure we wouldn't forget this incredible story. He got folks to write it all down in the Bible, using words we can get our heads around. When we read it, we're reminded of God's loyalty, His promises, and how to find salvation. 2 Timothy 3 v 16-17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Just like the deaf use sign language, God talks to us through the visual language of His Gospel. It's clear, simple, and speaks right to the heart. Psalm 19 v 1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork."

As Easter rolls around, let's think about the signs God's given us – from the start of trouble in Eden to Jesus beating death. Let's be inspired by God's story, finding fresh hope and strength in His amazing love.

Sin's Shakeup - Easter's YOU turn

Once upon a time, bad stuff happened. Sin messed things up big time. Way back when, a sneaky snake tricked the first humans, and everything went downhill from there. But God didn't leave us hanging. He sent us signs, like big hints, to help us out.

First off, there's Easter. It's all about Jesus, God's son. He came to Earth as a baby, grew up like us, and did some pretty cool stuff. He healed sick people and did magic tricks that weren't really magic.

Then came the big one: Calvary. Jesus got in trouble and was put on a cross to die. But that's not the end of the story. After a few days, He came back to life! Crazy, right? That's the Empty Tomb part.

So, to sum it up, Easter is like a reminder that even when things seem bad, there's still hope. Jesus did all this cool stuff to show us that God loves us and wants us to be happy. And that's the sign He left us – a sign of hope and love, plain and simple.

Signs of Care - Finding Hope in Life's Signposts

In life, we come across signs that guide us through tough times. Just like how Deaf people use sign language to communicate, we also receive signs from something greater than us, showing love and care. Even in our darkest moments, these signs light the way, giving us hope and strength to keep going.

When things get tough, don't lose hope. Just like how the stars shine bright in the night sky, we too can rise above our problems and move towards a better tomorrow. So, let's pay attention to these signs of hope and keep believing in a brighter future.