It has been very busy since I visited Bloomington to attend Dr. Dunn's memorial service for a weekend. I felt "home" in Bloomington always because I lived for more than a decade there and still have many friends there. While I was staying there, I have thought a lot in several things. One of my friends asked me what I have missed most about Bloomington. I said "friends" and "diversity". Bloomington is a such an unique place among even in mid-west. Because there are tons of students who are from all over the world and states, people are open and so called "liberal" which I don't want to choose to term. However, I can't say which way is better. I just got used to being in that society. That is all. Like my kids at the elementary school in Bloomington, more than half of class mates were from all over the world. On the contrary, in here, we hardly find a child like my kids, Asian even though they don't think they are different. It was very hard for my kids to adjust for a year at their school.
Anyway, because of the diversity, people in Bloomington accept easily differences in many ways. For example, they invite totally stranger into their Thanksgiving dinner. I know it sounds strange but IU international center arranges BWF(Bloomington Worldwide friendship) invites international students into their homes. I was one of them in my very first year. After the first year, I started having lots of American friends so, I had to run three or four dinners on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I became spoiled being an international student, I guess.
Also, people hear other people's different philosophy, idioms, opinions, and so on which I found out not easy in my new town. They have tons of meetings in every place to discuss matters. Especially in church, you name it! there are the meetings and the meetings could be long for two or three hours seriously. They talk and talk and listen and listen. I just was amazed how people share their thoughts so easily and how different their thoughts were. I frankly was bored most of time but enjoyed to see how they got into a one "solution".
I have thought about those "differences" lately. I can't say which way is good or bad. But I have learned that I should accept "differences" in many ways as differences themselves. God makes us different totally. As I know Him, He is the one who enjoys most "differences". However, as a human being, I have a tendency to start judging or putting them in my ruler to find out which one is good or bad. I need to be alert to find out which is evil or not but I don't have a right to judge. God does have the right. I pray that I have an open heart to accept different life styles, thoughts, and cultures like among family members even though other people don't see me that way. I know it is a big task and needs to be discipline in some ways but I do want to be like Jesus who never fears to accept differences in front of people with His whole heart, not only showing but really accepting. Jesus, please help me to have your heart!
Anyway, because of the diversity, people in Bloomington accept easily differences in many ways. For example, they invite totally stranger into their Thanksgiving dinner. I know it sounds strange but IU international center arranges BWF(Bloomington Worldwide friendship) invites international students into their homes. I was one of them in my very first year. After the first year, I started having lots of American friends so, I had to run three or four dinners on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I became spoiled being an international student, I guess.
Also, people hear other people's different philosophy, idioms, opinions, and so on which I found out not easy in my new town. They have tons of meetings in every place to discuss matters. Especially in church, you name it! there are the meetings and the meetings could be long for two or three hours seriously. They talk and talk and listen and listen. I just was amazed how people share their thoughts so easily and how different their thoughts were. I frankly was bored most of time but enjoyed to see how they got into a one "solution".
I have thought about those "differences" lately. I can't say which way is good or bad. But I have learned that I should accept "differences" in many ways as differences themselves. God makes us different totally. As I know Him, He is the one who enjoys most "differences". However, as a human being, I have a tendency to start judging or putting them in my ruler to find out which one is good or bad. I need to be alert to find out which is evil or not but I don't have a right to judge. God does have the right. I pray that I have an open heart to accept different life styles, thoughts, and cultures like among family members even though other people don't see me that way. I know it is a big task and needs to be discipline in some ways but I do want to be like Jesus who never fears to accept differences in front of people with His whole heart, not only showing but really accepting. Jesus, please help me to have your heart!
1 comment:
I always enjoy your blog. I appreciate the way you open up your heart to those of us are reading. The ability to do is a rare gift. This post about diversity is a very thought provoking one. I often find myself wondering what we could do to make our church community one that invites people of diverse backgrounds. Keep on blogging!
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