Lost in Translation

Sometimes, we can get lost in how things are translated. Take, when we arrived to Puerto Rico 28 years ago. My mom only had local channels, so the programming we watched in NY were gone; lost. At first, we were somewhat relieved when we discovered 3-5 old programs. But once we began watching them, we noticed things were a bit off. In some cases, way-off! For starters, everything was of course, in Spanish. For another, nothing was translated as it should. In other words, new scripts were developed, or lines made up as they went along. For another, the same 2-3 translators translated various shows. And they didn’t try to sound at all like their characters. So, if you heard Yogi Bear, his voice was the same one for Bay Watch and Mr. Cartwright, etc. Forget about the jokes and cliches. Yogi sounded nothing like himself, and from Full House, Joey’s Popeye’s interpretations, weren’t even there. To top it off, Full House wasn’t known as Casa Llena or Hogar Lleno, instead, it was called, 3×3(!).
The program, Silk Stalkings, was translated as Silk Stockings (Medias de Seda)! Suddenly, we were complaining in Spanish! Ay, yai, yai!
I’m sure you’ve read about the car company pushing to sell their NOVA vehicle in Mexico, where NO-VA means No-Go! It didn’t sell!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…So, there we were, my wife and I, last week at Golden Corral having a conversation. She was saying how glad she was that after we’d eat, we’d walk across the mall to Burlington for browsing. However, she didn’t want me to rush her like last time, which I assured her I hadn’t done. After a few mins., I switched our conversation to GC, to our food. I told her, “Go up, walk around, and see what’s there as you always do.” She said, “If I go, I’m going to look at purses.” I responded with, “At persons?” She said, yes, at purses.” I said, “you mean, at people.” She said, “No, at purses.” I realized, we, again, were having two conversations! I said, “I’m talking food! Go look at the food! Forget purses!”
Happens so often! We’re talking one thing and the other person, is talking about something else.
When we talk with God, however, He knows what we’re saying-as well as what we’re not saying. Talk to Him today. He wants to hear from you. He speaks your language! He won’t change words around! And, your message will not get lost in translation!
“God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence” (Psalms 139:1-4 MSG).
God Bless!