There is value of a simple gesture, especially in a world of different cultures said Ladner Rotary member Marie-Laure Liao at a club meeting invocation on September 8, 2026 .
“We may speak different languages, follow different traditions, and express friendship in different ways,” says Marie-Laure. "In one culture, a hug may say, "Welcome." In another, a respectful distance may express exactly the same thing. Yet kindness is understood almost everywhere."
She said a smile, a handshake, a word of encouragement, a few minutes of our time, or simply choosing not to remain indifferent can have a much greater impact than we sometimes realize.
We may not be able to help everyone, but every one of us can help someone. And when people from different backgrounds come together with openness,
respect, and a willingness to serve, those simple gestures become much more than gestures.
They become friendship. They become understanding.
They become bridges between cultures. And sometimes, they even become peace.
Perhaps that is what Rotary's “Service Above Self” is really about: not always doing something extraordinary, but doing ordinary things with kindness, generosity, and purpose.
To make the world just a little better through the way we treat one another.
And if, from time to time, we misunderstand one another because of our different cultures, accents, traditions, or habits ... that's all right.
After all, Rotary has given us a universal language: When in doubt, smile, shake hands... and ask when lunch is being served.
