The Outsider

When I was overseas, I was told what to expect about the culture I was entering. Although it was helpful, what I heard was from the perspective of an outsider, and I had to throw a lot of it out. I learned very quickly that I had to get to know the people that I encountered and lived life with, and not an analytic societal evaluation of who they were. I had to allow them to teach me who they were and on my part join them and live life with them.

How often do I not really get to know someone, because I think I already know. We assume someone is angry, sad, needy, weird, depressed, antisocial, or whatever. I assume the socially awkward person will be a burden, or perhaps, I assume I will be the burden to someone and don’t reach out. I think I assume a lot, when perhaps I should be learning to love others and making an effort to get to know them, getting in the mud and living life with them. Listening and loving more than coming to conclusions. And when I speak; speaking the truth in love, not assumptions.

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
–Proverbs 16:24