One afternoon of service, after finishing our typical responsibilities, I encountered one woman sitting on her bed looking out at the room. I went up to her and held her hand. I began to speak to her in English and she understood. I pointed out her delicately painted fingernails. With a big smile and nod said, “It looks so pretty!” She smiled and replied in Bengali. I retained my smile, however I had no idea what she said. I didn’t know how to respond, the language barrier was nearly impossible to ignore. I tried once more to preserve our “conversation” by pointing out the bangles on her wrist. I asked her how to say jewelry and she taught me. I was glad that our conversation was pushing forward, until she began to speak to me again and this time I just smiled and laughed while saying “I’m sorry, I don’t know.” She began to laugh as well. So there we were, both sharing a laugh about how we couldn’t communicate with our words. After our laughter died down, I remained looking into her eyes and rubbing her hand with a smile. She didn’t look away, I soon sensed a startling feeling of the discomfort of silence. I felt vulnerable, as if she could see into my heart. There is a deep vulnerability in a genuine smile. One of the most simple yet fundamental ways of sharing ourselves with others is through a smile. 

While passing someone on the street it’s not uncommon to make eye contact and smile, but people often look away quickly. There is a certain feeling of discomfort as if you are sharing too much with this stranger. 

I began to feel this discomfort, but did not look away. I realized that this is what it often means to love another person. Sharing yourself with someone without words. To allow someone to see the genuine joy you have as you look at them and try to see them as Christ does. To see the beauty of the other’s heart and simply be with them. I had nothing to gain from her, no interesting life story or words of wisdom, no funny jokes to exchange. In our inability to have a “real conversation” I was able to learn more about authentic love than any amount of words or ideas could teach me. Any sense of utility goes away when you don’t speak the same language. She then leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek in overwhelming gratitude. Although she did not say the words, “thank you” I know in that small moment she could feel that I loved her. It was an opportunity that I will never forget, to even in a simple act of love, to radiate the love of Christ that she is worth being seen and received with joy. I will never again underestimate the power of a genuine smile and a shared gaze.

Violeta
Calcutta Mission Trip
2024 Spring Break