It was great to celebrate with my "family" here in Peru. Our house of girls got together with a few other American missionaries and feasted on some timeless Thanksgiving treats- stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade mashed potatoes, and of course turkey- the whole 9 yards. I think our stomachs had reverse affects from having adjusted to Peruvian food and then dumping a week's worth of traditional American food into our stomachs. But we enjoyed sharing some old favorites with each other and participating in family traditions.
Today we had another Thanksgiving lunch for those who couldn't make it on Thursday. The couple who hosted our get-together decorated the house beautifully with pretty table cloths and fall flowers. After we read Psalm 100 and thanked the Lord for his blessings- and another table filled with food, we ate the afternoon away and finished it off with a little family game time.
On our way home we passed the guard house that sits on the corner of our block where two watchmen sat, talking with each other and enjoying the late afternoon sun. With bags of leftover food crowding our arms, we passed them with a smile and simple greeting, as usual. As I passed, I felt an overwhelming urge to give them the food I was carrying, you know, the food I was going to take back home and probably throw into the refrigerator until it became too old to finish later because I'd forgotten about it. I continued walking.. and juggled through a short thought process.. "wait, do what? But.. what if that's 'culturally unacceptable,' what if they don't even want it? That would be awkward.." But as I reached the door and headed into our kitchen I decided, why not. I warmed up a box of hot food, put some salad and deviled eggs on a plate and grabbed a bag of chocolate, butterscotch cookies. My friend Peter accompanied me back to the guard house where we were greeted with slightly confused, but smiling looks. I explained that this past Thursday was a big holiday back in the States and we had just come back from celebrating it with some friends. We had a bunch of extra food and wanted to show them our gratitude for their work by sharing some of the leftovers with them. They were pleasantly surprised as they thanked us and our short interaction left a deep satisfaction in my heart. Not because I had this "great idea" or a "giving heart," but because it felt good to live by conviction.
My friend Beth and I were talking this past week and challenged ourselves to step out of our comfort zones. We want to show Christ in a practical way, not just by quoting Scripture and teaching Bible lessons or singing praise songs. We want to serve our friends, our students, our co-workers, even strangers. We want to take advantage of the convictions that the Holy Spirit puts on our hearts, instead of quieting them with "reason" or excuses. A lot of times, I find myself hesitant to follow through because it goes against culture. Certain people don't interact with others of a certain class. It would be "wrong!" Our maid (very typical to have in this culture) would not eat the Thanksgiving meal with us at the table because she felt uncomfortable, so instead she stayed in the kitchen. Watchmen are at your service, not the other way around.
This is where my revelation set in.
There are times where it is extremely important to be sensitive to cultural boundaries, but there are also cultural limitations that beg to be transcended by the love of Christ. You may be familiar with the story of Jesus and the woman at the well (John 4). He was on his way back to Galilee and had to pass through Samaria. As a Jew, it was socially and religiously unacceptable to converse with a Samaritan, much less a Samaritan who was a WOMAN. I re-read this story and looked up some articles to help me understand the gravity of the situation during that time. I found this quote that sums up the heart I want to emulate to the people in Peru, "He was not limited by the customs of his day but addressed her as an equal with men and a potential sharer in the kingdom" (Thiessen, Jesus and Women in the Gospel of John) I want to see people through the eyes of Christ. Whether a politician, watchman, or house maid. Everyone was created in the image of God and everyone needs a Savior. I thank God that I can live by His grace and love by His conviction, and it's my prayer that He continues to give me opportunities to be a light in His kingdom on earth.
