Mong, the third officer on board the CENTURY CHENZHOU proved it yet again to Nico this week - sometimes words are overrated. Words could be like a stream without pause, hurtling over the edge of silence, moving along without course.

Even for the most skilled word smith, one that can create sentences with great workmanship and expertise, meaning could disappear in a maze of double meaning. Words can confuse, hide the truth or even damn. Words may form a bridge or an abyss...  

Similarly, a look, the rhythm of a sigh, a tear, a half-smile or silence could express more than a thousand words. It is as if deep feeling can exist without name or words. 

The words between Mong and Nico are stolen by their inability to speak each other’s language. Their words form an abyss rather than a bridge. Even their best attempts to formulate or express meaning are hopelessly inefficient. Their meeting is, therefore quiet now...   

It is exactly within this silence where they find meaning in an unusual way. As such, it is ironic that I am trying to describe the depth of the silence here with words...  

The moment when Nico hands Mong a Bible in his own language, at the moment when their eyes meet in a friendly look, at the moment when there is (in spite of a wordless discussion) mutual understanding of the enormous event, it becomes a moment of bridging the silent gap in a way that cannot be described by a thousand words. When Nico explains the meeting, he also explains how deeply aware he felt of God’s presence. He also explains that Mong felt as deeply aware of the fact that they found themselves in God Moment.       

 Sometimes our service does not lie within the scope of words. Sometimes we understand only a part of what is said. That is exactly when we feel we should explain, talk, discuss, give more information and express all the beautiful things we think we can share with words. Yet, sometimes words are not necessary. Being without words may be enough to touch and move others deeply, because God is so much bigger than that which we can achieve with words!

 May you be aware of every story to which you contribute, specifically that your contribution could work in ways that not even the best word artist can express. God is, indeed, bigger than our words and minds. Thank you for your share in this.