One week from today is Christmas 2021. And in just about every part of the world there are Christians who will celebrate the birth of Jesus. But have you ever stopped to think (or even thought about it without stopping) how that celebration is unique to humans?
No animals, birds, fish, or reptiles can be found putting up Christmas trees. Or buying presents. Or even gathering together to sing and talk about their Creator.
And that’s true, partly, because of something else unique to humans.
Speech.
It’s unique to humans for three main reasons.
Your larynx is low in your neck with a long air column above your vocal cords. Because of this physical design you can make clear vowel sounds. And the back of your tongue extends deep down into your neck and modulates air flow to make clear consonant sounds.
And guess who can’t do that.
Apes. Because apes have flat, horizontal tongues that leave them unable to make consonant sounds.
But here’s something even cooler than that.
You have a prewired brain that can learn and convey abstract ideas. Ponder that in your prewired brain for a moment. I’ll wait. (cue the Jeopardy music)
OK, stop the ponder.
Now, think about your favorite color.
Because there are so many things you can conjure up just by thinking of a color. But even better than that, you can describe the pictures you conjure up with words that other humans can understand. Then, they can actually understand what you mean. Even if it doesn’t jive with the mere scientific facts of why your eyes see color.
Are you pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down?
Can you see the significance of this trio of design traits?
Scientists admit they can find no evolutionary development to explain the speech center in your brain. Of course, Christians aren’t stumped. At least not the ones who believe God’s word that says He created us in His image and likeness. And we know that we’re prewired, by the most intelligent being in the universe, to make and understand speech.
So, speech is unique to humans.
But if you disagree…I’m willing to talk about it.
It does my heart good to know I’m not some inconsequential little animated pile of carbon. I’m confident I’ll leave more than a footprint here on earth. I’m going to live forever with the One who gave me awareness of my own existence. And I’m going to love every minute.
Now, that’s a Christmas present for the ages.
I’m in a book that’s filled with endless pages.
And who I am was written by a Savior
Whose love for me helped change my heart’s behavior.
Stay tuned,
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Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt
Or how about some music for kids