We live in a society of instant gratification. I can have food, entertainment, banking, education, news all delivered directly to my couch. And I can access it all from my phone.
What sucks is, most of life doesn't work that way. Things of substance, things that matter, take time. Google might help you diagnose an ailment, but it won't make you a doctor.
The same is true for relationships. There are no quick fixes or shortcuts if we want them to be healthy. If we want them to matter, it takes time.
One of the most difficult aspects of cross-cultural ministry is differing perceptions regarding time. In Latin America, if you're waiting to meet someone and he shows up a half hour late without an apology, you might think he's rude.
If you're rushing to a meeting and don't stop for a five minute conversation with a friend, he would think the same of you. No one is being rude, the cultural norms are different.
If we struggle with our fellow human beings, how much more is our quick fix society culturally separated from an eternal God? When you exist outside of time what does it do to your perspective? I think it's why he always seems so slow.
When trying to build a cross-cultural relationship you need to adopt their cultural norms, even when you may not understand them. I think that's true in faith as well. We won't always understand God and his timing, but it may help if we took some time to slow down.
What sucks is, most of life doesn't work that way. Things of substance, things that matter, take time. Google might help you diagnose an ailment, but it won't make you a doctor.
The same is true for relationships. There are no quick fixes or shortcuts if we want them to be healthy. If we want them to matter, it takes time.
One of the most difficult aspects of cross-cultural ministry is differing perceptions regarding time. In Latin America, if you're waiting to meet someone and he shows up a half hour late without an apology, you might think he's rude.
If you're rushing to a meeting and don't stop for a five minute conversation with a friend, he would think the same of you. No one is being rude, the cultural norms are different.
If we struggle with our fellow human beings, how much more is our quick fix society culturally separated from an eternal God? When you exist outside of time what does it do to your perspective? I think it's why he always seems so slow.
When trying to build a cross-cultural relationship you need to adopt their cultural norms, even when you may not understand them. I think that's true in faith as well. We won't always understand God and his timing, but it may help if we took some time to slow down.
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