It's Different

Differences make art memorable, people heroes and cultures our teachers. CS Lewis was different because he was brilliantly special. Lord of the Rings is timeless because nothing is like it. Battlestar Galactica is without argument a phenomenon in TV Sci-Fi drama. Unique, special, phenomenon, holy are all words to express “different”. Differences also grate against our senses and make us furrow our brows or cry like Isaiah. So let me take a moment to describe a few differences in the Philippines.
Already we’ve seen the unique nature of the ministers here. In the Philippines, though I’m sure there are some who are shadey, every minister we’ve seen is solid to the core. Already in one week we’ve seen TV preachers, youth pastors, missionaries, slum pastors, theology professors and spiritual directors. Their lives are full of integrity, they are orthodox, preach with passion, love God’s Word, listen to the Spirit and don’t see a contradiction with loving God and serving the “least of these”. Needless to say, it has been inspiring so far.
Friendship means more here and is more special than in the US…it’s for life and the currency of freindship is giving your life to the other. A man named Boyette wants to show friendship to us and has bent over backwards for us stangers.
Selfishness is shuned here. Taking the lower seat as described by Jesus is a trait that extends beyond his followers in this culture…in a way it is a phenomonom to us.
There are some other “special” differences that take some adjustment here in the Philippines: like a lack of cheese, crowded streets choking with the fumes of countless cars, constant noise. But these things are merely diffenent and have intrinsic petagogical value for us Americans.
Some other differneces that are noteworthy: the water turns off at 9am and turns back on by 4pm every day. Rice is at every meal…even if it’s spaggetti. Fish eyes are a delacacy to many. Pizza has no sauce, even if it’s Pizza Hut. Basketball is the national sport played by everyone (not soccer). Standing like Superman, with hands on hips, means you want to fight. Kids are celebrated and not seen as an annoyance.
It’s different here but I believe we are finding our feet. We have much to learn from all the differences and I look forward to seeing how God will shape us.
Let me know what you think. It would be nice to hear from you.