Where's Home....Cultural Reflection

I am here in the U.S.  but I don't fit in...I feel like I fit in more in Ecuador even though every time I walked on a bus, I was the only blonde one and everyone stared at me.  Things that I do aren't "normal" here in the U.S....so where do I belong?  I am used to living life one way, but my home in the U.S. lives another.  So where is home?  Some of you may relate, but others may have no idea what I'm talking about, but that's okay!! It's what people with cross cultural experiences face and it's important to know!

Something I want to talk about that I face and really everyone faces.

Grace. Vulnerability.  Forgiveness.  Understanding.  Love

  

Words that describe what needs to be done, but so much of built up hurt, anguish, hatred, and misunderstanding blocks this from happening.  It's when 2 people with different cultures try to understand one another but because of cultural differences, history, and current situations, we fail to understand and maybe even relate to one another so we completely disregard the person or the culture.

If we fail to relate and truly understand that person, what is the point of even trying to maintain the relationship with that person?  

I think society today is filled with people that have intentionally or unintentionally ignored people because they have had some instance where they have not truly understood someone because of their culture.  Their experience from that one person gives them the perspective of how everyone is within that culture.  But this is wrong, everyone is different and no culture is right or wrong.  We are prideful of our culture and where we come from.  Sure, we should be proud of where we come from, but that doesn't mean we should view our culture and "our" people as better than or the best.  I've found a few key things that we can do about this. 

1. Offer Grace- we have to understand that people can't truly understand everything because it's not their culture.

2. Be vulnerable-  level with the person and apologize if you've offended.

3. Forgive

4. Understand- Don't be afraid to try.  Differences can scare us away, but if we let it, we are robbing ourselves from the goodness of God's beauty.  

5. Love- "Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).

God made us each different for a reason.  It's beautiful when differences come together in unity because despite of their differences, they love each other anyway.  Though it may be frustrating, we should not give up; God calls us to love one another and reconcile any disputes.  

Through the cross, Christ reconciled us all to one another (Ephesians 2:14-15).