Transforming Today's World Magazine - JAN 2014 Special Edition Vol 5 Issue 3 | Page 48

He became very still as he watched his wife have
uncontrollable tears suddenly stream down her face. He
said he was a Viet Nam Vet and the word really touched a
deep place in his spirit. The woman hugged me, and said
she had lost the father she had never known in World War
II, and that the word meant so much to her. They both
related how grateful they were for the intimate sharing that
literally came out of nowhere!

His entire demeanor changed and there was such a sense of
relief on his face; a certain weight seemed to have been lifted
as he effortlessly shared the meaning of the word and what it
meant to him.

Imagine the sincerity, depth and even brazenness of two
total strangers walking up to a couple they had never seen
before, and offering them a ‘Word’! Could that simple act
actually alter their life? Could that even BE possible? The
answer is a resounding yes! The word ‘sacrifice’ actually
triggered a response from deep inside the mans’ heart that
had probably been hidden for years. His entire demeanor
changed and there was such a sense of relief on his face; a
certain weight seemed to have been lifted as he effortlessly
shared the meaning of the word and what it meant to him.
The four of us all cried and hugged one another as Lisa and
I quietly watched in gratefulness as the couple disappeared

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into the crowd. What a blessing for ALL of us! You may
be thinking how simple this seems and how could it
possibly work? Well, there is a real and visceral answer
to that question! The gesture itself begins the process;
but it is ALL in the sincerity of the heart and the spirit
in which it is given, that spontaneously sparks the
communication in another person receiving the ‘Word’!
We have all read in the Bible: “In the beginning was
the Word and the Word was God.” But have you ever
dissected that statement and discovered the meaning
behind it? How many times have we all said: “Oh- that
was a GOD thing!” If this rings true to your spirit, then
you have discovered the meaning behind giving a total
stranger a ‘Word’! Sometimes people experiencing deep
emotional pain, sorrow or stress do not know HOW to
begin the process of communicating. A simple word,
shared with a stranger in the spirit of love and kindness,
can change a life forever. I can assure you none of the
thousands of words Lisa has shared with people will ever
be forgotten. Hopefully those simple words or phrases
shared with total strangers have permanently ignited a
spark and desire, deep within their hearts, to continue
to share and communicate in a way they never have
before. Discovering a ‘safe place’ is a fundamental gift of
communication that has been graciously given through
the loving heart of Lisa Coltman, and is a vital tool for all
of us to experience.