I have lived in Salt Lake City for exactly 15 months now. So much has changed in these 15 months. I started learning guitar. I resumed piano lessons. I had my first sip of alcohol. I hiked a couple big (for me) mountains. I got involved in a church denomination different from the one I’d been with for 22 years. I visited Alaska. I lived with my best friend for the summer. I finally watched the one I voted for win. I started training to become a Stephen Minister. I grew to appreciate (and even crave) black coffee. I navigated New York City’s subways and buses on my own for the first time.
Besides these changes, I’ve noticed my ideology changing recently. I’ve been working in a social justice setting for over a year now, but all of a sudden things are starting to hit me in new ways. Up till now, the questions I’ve been wrestling with were along the lines of “How can we get churches involved in justice, not only charity? How can we free the oppressed people living on the margins?” These are the new questions I’m wrestling with:
What if people who are economically poor are actually richer than I am, as shown by their gratitude, attitude, sharing of community…? What if people who have less formal education than I do are actually smarter than I am, as shown by their deep thinking and theological statements…? What if people who have less stuff are more content? What if I need to rethink my definitions of poverty & wealth? Why don’t I have the faith that these “poor” people have?
They talk about God to me in ways that I never replicate when I’m talking to people about God.
It seems my fellow missionaries are also undergoing these kinds of radical transformations. We’ve shared with each other what ways our eyes are opening, how others are teaching us new outlooks. I’m glad we have a second year in which to get even deeper.
Anyway, those are the ongoing changes in my life. In case you were interested.
I am interested in what’s going on in your life. These questions and ideas you posed today are much easier for me to digest than some of your others. As in, I like the way you are thinking here whereas in some cases I am ‘put-off’ by what you write. That’s just being honest.
Also, I think questions are more important than answers.
I too think questions are more important than answers. But to be honest about it that’s because I can hardly ever figure out the answer. Really. Even in school that’s how it was. But for the sake of any school students out there, I would not try the old “Well I didn’t answer that because I think the question is more important than the answer” excuse after your next exam. Teachers see right through that. I know.
And one other thing… you left out the part that you are gradually becoming a wild outdoor girl having taken up hiking and stuff. And you hardly ever whine anymore about how hard it is for a girl to pee in the woods.
Good stuff.