Tongue Twisters and the Imperfection of Humanity

Earlier this week, my 7^th grade students engaged in a battle of tongue twisters. They exchanged challenges that sought to discover which of them could say certain phrases “ten times fast”. Laughter erupted from everyone as, one by one, the kids stuttered and stumbled over seemingly easy sentences.

After some amused observation, I eventually joined in their efforts and attempted a few for myself. Once I failed terribly at my goal of saying “toy boat” five times fast (And you just tried it, didn’t you? Harder than it sounds, eh?), I waved my little white flag and let another soul endure the light humiliation of messing up the English language.

I sat back in my chair, giggling along with this age-old game that enables us to laugh at our mistakes. And this thought occurred to me: tongue twisters serve as such a wonderful reminder that we are so human.

The movement of our lips, tongues, and vocal chords do not coordinate as they should, thus leaving us in a tangled mess of non-words and funny noises. As humans, we are far from invincibility and flawlessness. Although a very minor reflection of the consequences of the Fall, tongue twisters illustrate this truth simply and beautifully.

Referring to the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, the Catechism states, “The harmony in which they had found themselves, thanks to original justice, is now destroyed…” (CCC 400). The perfection that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden is now tainted due to sin, and we who come after them inherit this need for grace and wholeness.

This turns us into clumsy creatures full of chaos (in every area of life).  In our miserable imperfection, we need some Jesus. Big time. Because so often we are like baby giraffes learning how to walk for the first time, we need Our Lord, in all His love and mercy, to take us by the hand and to pick us up when we fall flat on our faces. We need His grace in order to straighten out the wrinkles of our lives, both large and small.

I can’t help but think of St. Paul and his take on the reality of our weak and flawed selves.  “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me… for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b).  St. Paul recognized that Christ fills the gaps.  Where we are imperfect, Jesus is perfect.  Where we are empty, Jesus offers to fill us until our cups overflow (cf Psalm 23:5).  Therefore, the more we seek to rely on Him and His strengths, the more our weaknesses will be transformed.

Although we get tongue-tied, are forgetful, and stub our toes, we, as human persons, have the terrific ability to reflect the love of God when we depend upon Him.  Once we truly understand the fact that we are utterly hopeless without the grace of Christ, we are set free to love like He loves, even amidst our imperfections.

Be it a small reminder, listening to the tongue twister attempts helped me to reflect on how much we need the Lord in order to make it through each day.  We are totally incapable without Him, and, thankfully, He offers Himself to us totally and unreservedly, even when we show forth our simplest human imperfections.

Let us boast, then, along with St. Paul, in our human frailty and weakness, a weakness that is made so evident when we attempt to master things like tongue twisters, because it is only then that Christ may take a greater hold of our hearts and our lives.