Beat of a Different Drum

When my children were little I did one of those unspeakable things that parents sometimes do—I bought my sons a drum set. What an interesting experience! They would pound away and all it did was prepare me for serving in the jungles abroad where drums can be heard pounding all night long.

In America, drums are used to entertain and provide a beat for music. In the forests of Africa, drumbeats can describe people, the rhythm can represent an idea and give a complete thought and the beat can signify a sentence. If you know how to read the drums you can tell what is happening and communication can take place from village to village.

I am convinced that the young people of our world today operate with their own set of rhythms. Some of them are pounding away while others are tapping very gently. If we can take the time to learn how to read their rhythms, we will have a better chance of sharing the Gospel with them.

Today, follow Paul’s example in 1 Timothy 4:12 and encourage a young person as Paul encouraged Timothy:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Anyone who has spent even a little time around teenagers today knows they have their own “language” and ways in which they communicate. You can assure the young people in your life that regardless of the “language” they speak, God hears them. Remind them of Psalm 19:3:

“There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”

Category: Africa