I personally experienced culture shock when I went to India a few years ago. HUGE culture shock. The food, the clothes, the people, the lifestyle. I was in a very remote, poor area. Large cities like Chennai or Mumbai are very modern compared to Tenali in the province of Andhra Pradesh. I hope to go back there one day. I learned to appreciate so many things I had never been exposed to before. And while I would love to see some help and change for hygienic and safety reasons, I would not change a thing about the culture.
Yesterday I was reflecting on another type of 'culture shock'. The kind that comes right from within my own community. When I was a teenager I used to go to dances at my school. I loved dancing! (still do) I usually worked the snack counter and danced up a storm while I served the food. During slow moments, I got on the dance floor with my friends and had a blast. When I would go to church on Sunday and tell my friends there about my weekend, I would get strange looks. Some even went so far as to kindly point out that 'Christians' do not do these things. Really? I mean, I know I still had a lot to learn, but did the Bible really say it was wrong for me to dance?
Over the years, I have experienced this kind of 'culture shock' over and over. You watch those types of movies? You listen to that music? You find that funny? Let me stress that none of these issues was about sin. These were all regarding the 'cultural' differences of denominations and churches. Now I realize it was just a whole lot of legalism and tradition.
I am so thankful that the God I know does not condone this type of behaviour. He wants me to experience MANY different cultures - whether they are in another country or just around the corner from me.
I saw a video yesterday that deeply affected me. It's the 'Revelation Song' performed by Northwood Worship. (Search it on Youtube...you won't be disappointed. Languages are Vietnamese, Spanish, and Hmong.) Beautiful!
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
What I cannot change.
During these past 5 months as my marriage is healing, I have had to face the fact that I have a lot of bad habits and problems that I have ignored over the years. How much easier it has been to focus on MY hurts and ignore any hurting I was contributing to! Suddenly I see so many things I never noticed, or, at the very least, refused to notice, before. And I don't like what I've seen.
So, one miracle has been the way my gracious Father patiently works on my character and has been showing me that it's not too late to change. And it hurts! It's exhausting...it's frustrating...it's overwhelming some days. But as I yield MY will and accept HIS love I am filled with a peace that truly does transcend all understanding.
This week was particularly challenging. Let's just say I have a hard time accepting things I cannot change. (Which, when you think about it, pretty much means everything because we can't change ANYTHING but ourselves...and even then I am a pretty tough customer...) Anyway, there are a few people I come into contact with daily - at one of my jobs and a neighbour - that have made it their mission in life to aggravate me. No, seriously. I'm not just talking about someone who bugs you with the way they do things or how mean they are. I am talking about people that actually go out of their way to push your buttons and they KNOW exactly where and what those buttons are.
So, last week I printed out the Serenity prayer. You know, the one that says;
So, one miracle has been the way my gracious Father patiently works on my character and has been showing me that it's not too late to change. And it hurts! It's exhausting...it's frustrating...it's overwhelming some days. But as I yield MY will and accept HIS love I am filled with a peace that truly does transcend all understanding.
This week was particularly challenging. Let's just say I have a hard time accepting things I cannot change. (Which, when you think about it, pretty much means everything because we can't change ANYTHING but ourselves...and even then I am a pretty tough customer...) Anyway, there are a few people I come into contact with daily - at one of my jobs and a neighbour - that have made it their mission in life to aggravate me. No, seriously. I'm not just talking about someone who bugs you with the way they do things or how mean they are. I am talking about people that actually go out of their way to push your buttons and they KNOW exactly where and what those buttons are.
So, last week I printed out the Serenity prayer. You know, the one that says;
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.
I've heard this prayer hundreds of times, but it really is quite life changing when you claim it. As I meditate on this, I am comforted by the fact that the Wisdom comes from God. As I rest in this, I can focus less on what irritates and hurts me and focus more on how I can change myself and be an encouragement to others. I stink at this. I'm thankful I don't have to do it alone.
And you know what else? I am learning to pray a blessing over those I cannot change. Now THAT is proof that God's spirit is working in me...
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Here I go....
40 + years old and here I am starting a blog. I've wanted to for a long time, and really wish I had taken the time to start this sooner. This past year has been very memorable. I wish I had taken the time to write down my thoughts while I was experiencing these things. Now I will have to record in reflection. That's ok! I'm sure I can still incorporate those experiences into my thoughts now.
But what is amazing is that I can sit here and contemplate just how incredibly fast things can change in life. I mean, four months ago, if you had asked me, I would have told you (if I was being honest) that I didn't think my marriage was going to survive. I would have told you (again, if I was being honest) that there was NO WAY I would still be married. Either that, or I would be 'stuck' in a marriage that was hopeless and joyless.
Now that would have been something to blog about. Not only the despairing feeling of a marriage that was doomed to fail, but the despair of a life that felt wasted and filled with regret. A life that didn't even feel worth living any longer. You would have looked at me with a blank, awkward stare and thought, "How can this be? You have the Power for hope and change at your disposal and yet speak of hopelessness and despair?!" I know....but I'll get to that....
You see, there were three major problems and all of them converged at the same time. 1. I was mentally ill and didn't even realize it. Maybe for a season, maybe longer, but something was definitely not right. 2. My husband is a sinner (gasp!) and felt just as stuck and hopeless as I did. And 3. I am a sinner (double gasp!!) and can't always see the path set before me.
Here is the key though - I was STUCK! Yep, utterly and completely stuck. No way out. No possible answer or solution. No decision that would be even remotely acceptable. Stuck.
Huh. Interesting....because the more stuck I was, the more I cried out to the One who had the power to 'un-stick' me. The more I realize that I was INDEED stuck! Why would I ever think that I wasn't stuck? Because, I am learning, that until we are completely and utterly stuck, and recognize that, we may be stuck forever. However, when I recognized that not only was I stuck but I had absolutely no power to un-stick myself, suddenly I became more aware of the One who not only has the power to un-stick me, but WANTS to un-stick me. And then, miracles happened....
But what is amazing is that I can sit here and contemplate just how incredibly fast things can change in life. I mean, four months ago, if you had asked me, I would have told you (if I was being honest) that I didn't think my marriage was going to survive. I would have told you (again, if I was being honest) that there was NO WAY I would still be married. Either that, or I would be 'stuck' in a marriage that was hopeless and joyless.
Now that would have been something to blog about. Not only the despairing feeling of a marriage that was doomed to fail, but the despair of a life that felt wasted and filled with regret. A life that didn't even feel worth living any longer. You would have looked at me with a blank, awkward stare and thought, "How can this be? You have the Power for hope and change at your disposal and yet speak of hopelessness and despair?!" I know....but I'll get to that....
You see, there were three major problems and all of them converged at the same time. 1. I was mentally ill and didn't even realize it. Maybe for a season, maybe longer, but something was definitely not right. 2. My husband is a sinner (gasp!) and felt just as stuck and hopeless as I did. And 3. I am a sinner (double gasp!!) and can't always see the path set before me.
Here is the key though - I was STUCK! Yep, utterly and completely stuck. No way out. No possible answer or solution. No decision that would be even remotely acceptable. Stuck.
Huh. Interesting....because the more stuck I was, the more I cried out to the One who had the power to 'un-stick' me. The more I realize that I was INDEED stuck! Why would I ever think that I wasn't stuck? Because, I am learning, that until we are completely and utterly stuck, and recognize that, we may be stuck forever. However, when I recognized that not only was I stuck but I had absolutely no power to un-stick myself, suddenly I became more aware of the One who not only has the power to un-stick me, but WANTS to un-stick me. And then, miracles happened....
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