Sometimes, when you're learning a new language, words you've been
using your whole life begin to take on a new richness. The obvious
translation for the word "animado" in Spanish is "animated" in English.
When we hear the English version, we often think first of animated
films. Then, if we think a bit further, we might imagine an animated
person--someone who is lively and energetic. In
Spanish, we think of something slightly different, someone who is is in good
spirits, encouraged, or excited. More than a personal characteristic,
it's an emotional state, and is often used as a verb (animar) to
indicate the giving of encouragement. Yet the two words have a similar
root and when you take each of them together, the the meaning is richer
and more powerful. In the same way that cartoons are animated when they
are moved into action by an artist, we as people are moved into action
and encouraged by something in our lives. I suppose you could say that
God is the ultimate animator. He's the one that breathes life into us,
encourages us, moves us, and makes us alive. But he's also created us
in such a way that because of our individual giftedness we also feel
that movement, that excitement, that life when we experience different
things in the world around us.
These ideas have been
circulating in my head because right now I'm feeling "animado". And
what is it that has been "animating" me? I think it's the sense of
being caught up in a greater story. God is doing some really neat
things here, and has brought a lot of talented people around. Sometimes
I get to thinking that I'm not prepared enough, or smart enough, or
dedicated enough to be able to do what he's called me to here. But
despite that, he is using me and encouraging me. I'm excited to share
about it here. Read on for more details!
