A Question of Culture

I've been thinking a lot about culture recently. The word culture can be defined in so many ways, in very concrete and also very fluid ways. Some would define culture in terms of traditions and festivals. We have traditional Thanksgiving day food or a Hindu cultural festival celebrating a particular god with
particular kind of prayers. We hear terms thrown around like Islamic culture and European culture, and the connotation associated with culture changes depending on who the word is applied to. Does culture apply to clothes, food, behavior, or religion? Yes...depending.

My journey with culture began several years ago, with my introduction to the life of international students from all over the world. I condensed to focusing on the cultural perspective of students from Nepal, intensified when I married a man from a different country, and has continued with our move to a new state. Most recently, I opened an insightful book called Culture Making by Andy Crouch. He has a fascinating take on culture that is helping me think outside the box a little. His definition is "Culture is what we make of the world. Culture is, first of all, the name of our relentless, restless human effort to take the world as it's given to us and make something else." Crouch goes on to write about culture being the way we make omelets and the kind of chairs we sit in. My translation is that culture is the details in everyday life.

Before I got married, eggs were simple. I fried them in a pan with salt or sometimes rosemary. I rarely made fancy eggs just for me, and oftentimes eggs were not reserved for breakfast. After marriage, my husband improved on my eggs by adding turmeric, cumin, onions, tomatoes, much more salt and sometimes hot peppers. It has been an interesting journey blending our two cultures to make a home life that we can agree on and both be happy in. Overall, its been a really fun path of discovery. However, it isn't always comfortable and does require some sacrifice and compromise.

Before marriage, I didn't really think I had a culture because I thought of culture in terms of events and traditions. However, after marriage, I realized that culture is much different than I thought. Culture is the way your treat elders, the way your talk to your spouse, the way you parent your children. Culture is cooking your meat with oil and spices or not eating meat at all. Culture is going to a church, mosque, temple or not believing there is a God. Culture is the way you greet your friends, the way you meet people for the first time, and the way you behave at parties. Culture is old and new, traditional and current, dynamic and constant.

Americans definitely have a culture, but not all American culture is equal. You will feel a cultural difference if you go north or south or east or west. There are accent differences, food differences, relationship differences. The same is true with countries all over the world. Just because a person you meet is from a particular country, we shouldn't assume anything about that person. Generalizations about culture and people get us in trouble and prohibit successful cross-cultural friendships and understanding. Our world is small and we are in contact with people from all over the world on a regular basis. Be humble, ask questions, and take time to listen to other people's stories. Share meals, try something new, be uncomfortable. It will be the most rewarding thing you could do.

A struggle in Madison

For those of you who aren't in Madison, there has been quite a stir about racial disparity. A local pastor wrote an article pointing out the difference in treatment between races, particularly the state of African Americans in this particular city. Madison is ranked the worst city for Black Americans. This discussion has opened follow-up discussions about other minority groups and their livelihood in this city. It has begun a very painful, but very open dialogue about treatment of people and societal structures.

Having just moved from the most diverse zip code in the nation to the worst city in the country for minority groups, has been a dramatic change. In the city we came from, you could go to a grocery store and see people from all over the world. Here, the closest grocery store definitely has a dominant racial population. I used to work in an office with a very diverse staff who operated more like a family. We could talk openly about race, and even tease each other about idiosyncrasies without anyone being offended or feeling persecuted. The place I work now is great, but lacks the same diversity as where I came from. I'm really not trying to compare the two places so that one comes out better than the other, simply to illustrate the difference.

I love culture and diversity. I love learning about people's walks of life and the way each person processes life experiences. It's hard for white Americans to think of their culture, but culture is so much more than traditions and festivals. Culture is your processes: the way you cook dinner, the way you greet someone, or even the way you work. Sometimes we can be so ingrained in our culture, our way of doing things, that we don't notice we have run over someone who does things differently. It can be a very unintentional but very painful mistake.

So Madison is currently in a stir about how to make this city a better place for all her inhabitants. I love that the conversation has been opened by a pastor, and is being supported by many organizations and groups. I also love that the conversation has expanded beyond just one population to include all minority populations. I am excited to see what happens, and prayerful that this isn't just another big stink that doesn't accomplish anything. Many people involved in these discussions have mentioned their frustration at having been part of these conversations before and seeing no results. I am praying that this time is different.

Please be praying with me. I believe that multiculturalism is a Jesus idea. Jesus was a Jew who reached out and included non-Jews. He set the example for his followers and then in his final lesson told his followers to go to the ends of the earth. I believe that if real change is going to happen, it is going to start with the individual. We are going to have to confront the wrong mindsets and viewpoints inside each of us, and make intentional changes in us before we will see any kind of large scale change. Open dialogue is necessary. We need to be brave enough to ask and answer the hard questions with lowered defenses. It's going hurt and it's going to be really hard. But it will be so worth it. There is something really special and precious about a group of people from different races, cultures, and languages coming together with one goal and one focus. Heaven on earth.

If you are interested in learning more about what is going on in Madison, visit www.madisonjustifiedanger.com. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day can bring on mixed feelings. For some, its expectations of romance and flowers while for others its a night with friends. For others, its a painful day reminding them of what is missing from their lives. Still for others, expectations of what the day should be kills the joy of celebrating what the day becomes. I've experienced all four.

This Valentine's Day is a bit different. I have recently discovered the joy and absolute treasure of having my husband who is my best friend. I have a thing for llamas stemmed mostly out of my last name. How many people have last names that are also animals??? Because of that I have started a small llama collection, and am greatly amused by all things llama. My husband humors me, and thinks I'm a nerd, but its something we can enjoy together. Well this year, he out did himself and made me a very happy lady.

This make me so happy!

I'Ll aLlways Llove my hubby!

It's definitely not a typically romantic gift, but it says Andrea all over it. He went and found something he knew I would enjoy and bought it for me. I'm typing this blog post right now wearing that shirt because I am crazy about it. 

Right now, my husband just finished teaching guitar lessons to a group of guys. This is our Friday night routine, and I have a heart shaped pizza on the way for the two of us to share. It's not a roses and candle light kind of Valentine's day, but it's okay. I feel treasured and thought of by my husband, and hopefully I did equally well with what I bought him. We'll probably eat our pizza and watch a movie that isn't a romantic comedy and just enjoy being together. After all, that is what really matters.

So whoever you are, and whatever your relationship status, remember that the real world is different from the movies. Things won't always work out the way you planned. And romance isn't always flowers and jewelry. Some times its kicking back in a llama t-shirt with pizza in hand, sitting next to your best friend. I am so blessed to get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. 

Happy Valentine's Day all!

Reading the Bible

Starting in Matthew, I have been reading a verse-by-verse commentary alongside portions of scripture and its bringing the Bible alive in ways I haven't experienced in a while. Students of the Bible know the importance of reading the Bible through the lens of its original audience. For example, each of the gospels has a different intended audience and Matthew was written for the Jewish people. Matthew wants to convince the Jews that Jesus was their awaited Messiah. I have been struck multiple times with how amazing the Bible is that even though it is 2,000ish years old, its still applicable to us today, especially since it wasn't written for everyone who picks it up and reads it. But yet, it was at the same time.

Yesterday, I was reading the Beatitudes and I had a realization that I hadn't before. In the beatitudes, Jesus tells his audience something that is very contrary to what most of us think. He said "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven" and "blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Notice he's talking about what we would consider low and weak characteristics, and he's exalting them like we would think he would say mighty warrior or righteous soldier. Instead he says, the poor, the meek, the lowly. How would the Jews' have reacted to this? Remember, the gospel of Matthew was written for them. The kind of Messiah the Jews were waiting for was not a lowly, humble servant, but a mighty king. They wanted someone to come rescue them from foreign rule and oppression, to set them back in their land, and to make their lives better. They wanted someone who would fight for them. Instead they get a carpenter who teaches them that the poor in spirit inherit the earth. What an amazing disappointment. Here the one who they are investigating as the Messiah tells them that they will inherit the earth exactly as they are, which is not a place they want to be.

I can image how let down some of them probably felt, and I can also image how incensed others may have felt. I begin to ask myself why. Jesus would have known their reactions, and would have known that what he was saying would anger, confuse, disappoint, and turn away those he loved. We see pictures and movies of this scene with everyone calmly sitting on the grass, looking up to Jesus with their mouths agape, completely in wonder of his words. I don't image that's how this scene actually played out, at least not for everyone.

This is the way our Lord works. He works in ways that are opposite to what we think should be the way. Jesus came not as a ruling prince to the family of a mighty king, but to a poor girl who wasn't even married to be born in a stable. He was the one who sacrificed his own life for the sake of those he loved. He taught that "the first shall be last and the last shall be first." It's the great reversal, and its being presented to us today as it was presented to the original audience.

Photo Fun - California Version

Stunning Patio View!

Love these windows!

Beautiful Purple Mountains

Your mercies are new every morning!

a photoshop painting!

Morning Sunshine

Right Place, Right Time

God often works in ways that are supernatural to us, but when we think about it are no big deal for Him. Recently, I was coming back from a work trip in California. I had gotten onto my plane, and my aisle seat was occupied so I ended up sitting in a middle seat on a different row. I'm pretty easy going and didn't really care where I sat, just really wanted to get home.

I like to chat with people on airplanes. You can meet some of the most interesting people during traveling and since there isn't much else to do, most people are pretty open for a chat. I started talking to the woman who was sitting on my right and she ended up being a pretty interesting lady. She moved from Chicago to LA to take a teaching job and founded a charter school with an emphasis in helping autistic children. She was super fascinating to talk with. Well in the course of the conversation I told her that I worked for a Christian, non-profit organization that works on college campuses helping students build community and to become leaders. She thought that was pretty cool, and it was obvious that we both shared a heart for helping people.

During the course of our conversation, the guy on my left had been kind of waking up, then he would pull himself up with the seat in front of him and look over to the right at a group of three people, make sure they were okay, and then he would sit back down, kind of adjust his seat, close his eyes and rest. I had noticed him when I first got onto the plane and thought he might be a Nepali man, but wasn't sure and since I wasn't sure if he was sleeping or not, I didn't want to disturb him. Well of course the drink cart came by, and me and the other lady got our drinks and we left the man to sleep. I debated on waking him, but decided it was better not to. So when he woke and unsuccessfully tried to wave down the flight attendant for drinks, I decided to help.

Well it turns out this guy was flying from Nepal to Omaha, Nebraska with his wife, young daughter and parents. They had a very long and difficult journey and were nearing the end. He spoke English but very little and it was clear he was going through massive culture shock and was of course extremely tired. I had some snacks in my bag that I handed to him and made sure to get him a glass of water. He ate the peanuts so fast. I started trying to ask him more questions, but he didn't understand much and I'm sure the exhaustion didn't help. I asked him if he knew where to go next, and he didn't have any idea. The only help provided was a tag around his neck with all his information on it, and an envelope sticking out of it that was written "Please write my gate number here. Thank you." Poor guy was never going to be able to navigate Denver Airport with just a gate number. I told him to stay close to me and I would help him. In the midst of interacting with him, the lady on my other side had gotten interested and started asking me questions about this man. I told her a little bit about the community of Refugees in the US who are ethnically Nepali but have lived in Bhutan for a hundred plus years, recently fled Bhutan to Nepal, and now have been given the opportunity to come to the US, Australia or Europe. My husband and I are actively involved with a community of people in his exact same situation in our city. She began to really emote with this guy. By the time she was getting off the plane, she was so moved that she really wanted to help, and asked me if I thought it was okay for her to give them some money. It was so amazing to watch her go from mildly interested in this guy to honestly wanting to help.

We got off the plane and I led them through the Denver airport and prayed that I would have enough time to get them settled in and get to my own gate which was about 40 gates apart. We had less than an hour. I was traveling with a friend who ran ahead of me to our gate so that he could save me if worse came to worse and I headed through the Denver airport with 4 bewildered and exhausted people on my heels. We got to their gate, and I gave them a contact number that I hope they will use. My husband really wanted to stay in contact with them. I made sure they had everything and gave them the money the lady had given me on the plane. I couldn't stay long because of my flight. I ran into my friend on the way and he said our gate had been moved so we were just a little ways away instead of all the way down the terminal.

The best part about that whole story is that after paying lip service to my being a Christian, the lady I was sitting next to got to see Christ in action. I cared about someone who we had both seen be pushed aside by the flight attendants, and showed her that Christians are more than lip service. Being a Christian is action. She asked me if she could give them money and I wasn't sure how he would react if she just handed him money, so I asked her if she minded giving it to me and I could use it to get them a meal. I told her that I would for sure to use it on them. She told me that she trusted me because I was a Christian type.

After all that was over and I was on my last plane, I sat in my seat praising the Lord for the way He works. He loves all of us enough to change our lives a bit to make sure His children get taken care of. I pray that the lady whose name is Amy, will come to know the kindness and goodness of the Lord, and I prayed that Tara and his family would have peace in their travel and find people to help them when they arrive. It was so fun to be able to help people and to demonstrate that Christians are servants first. Just as God is our "ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1), so should Christians be a help in times of trouble. To Him alone is due all the praise, honor and glory.

Great By Choice - Book Review

"Those who spend most of their energy 'reacting to change' will do exactly that, expend most of their energy reacting to change. In a great twist of irony, those who bring about the most significant change in the world, those who have the largest impact on the economy and society, are themselves enormously consistent in their approach. They aren't dogmatic or rigid; they're disciplined, they're creative, they're paranoid. They're SMaC!"
Great By Choice by Jim Collins

And now you want to know what SMaC is! Well, you'll have to read the book. Great teaser. :)

Originally I picked this book up because it was required reading for my job. It's written from a corporate perspective, so I was curious as to how it identified with the non-profit. As I began reading the book, I noticed that it could apply to not just corporate world, but also to non-profits, churches, groups and even individuals seeking to direct and focus their lives. It was an excellent book with some very good principles about longevity, discipline, change and perspective that can be applicable to anyone wanting to be an agent of change or to an organization wanting to survive for the long haul.

The book is a study of ten corporations that Collins calls "10xers" who have shown exponential growth and a comparison to sister companies who did not show the same amount of growth. The research in the book is trying to pin point what the "10xers" did that was different compared to their sister companies. He highlights some very specific things and gives them names and word pictures to help the reader identify these things in his or her own life and organization. It seems like a very heavy read, but its actually not. Collins has life stories to go with each principle both the success and the failures to help illustrate the points, and the book reads like a chat over coffee.  The best part is that the principles taught in this book build on each other!

If you are looking for ways to guide your organization or disciplines to put into your own life to make you a successful person, this would be a great start. There is much talk about luck and unexpected circumstances, and Collins takes that and helps the reader see that there are things within his or her control that can be done in order to ease the unexpected. I highly recommend this book.