Wow! A lot can be said about what I have experienced the past 17 days relating to traveling, moving out of your comfort zone, living out of a backpack, humus and pitas, sleeping in airports, buying stuff, losing stuff and ... how God manifests himself in all of this. Yet it is the difference in cultures that fascinates me the most.
One can get so caught up in a habitual way of doing things and even be so arrogant as to think that your way is the high way, that you completely miss fundamental characteristics of the GOD of ALL nations.
This experience already started before we left the borders of South Africa. By making use of the public transport millions of South-Africans use daily, I learnt something about humility… and patience (Jo-burg train station - The train is not always on time and even though you pay the same price as another you don’t always get a seat). In Egypt I saw hope and contentment rising from the worst filth and rubble I have ever seen (Garbage city church in Cairo - You need not live in a mansion to sip black ground tea on your front porch… while the garbage trucks reek past). The Jewish people in Israel thought me something about devotion and communion (the wailing wall and festivities surrounding the Sabbath).
Now one may ask, but how is it that the Egyptians don’t clean the place up and why can’t Africa learn to be on time and when will the Jews see the truth?
Yes there are elements of their furious ways of life that is incomprehensible and perhaps even wrong, like the countless half built buildings in Egypt and the stern rules that suppress any Jews growth, but disregarding them completely would only mean depriving yourself of a blessing of discovering something about God’s grace. & nbsp;
Seeing these people made me realize how God’s grace knows no boundaries? He is the bridge between cultures and loves you no matter what you eat or how you regard women or even how you smell. He loves you for he sees the person he created and the person you can become through him. And no lousy traditions or narrow mindedness can keep us from receiving His grace.
I am looking forward to meeting God’s people and through them getting to know my Lord.
PS. Looking forward to meeting the host family I’ll be staying with here in Portugal and a good night’s sleep… cause sleeping on Madrid Airport = mission impossible
Overwhelmed
Comments
It's wonderful to see how God is working in your life. Keep on seeking Him in all things...