Differences

 

While traveling around the world over the last three years,
and especially in the last three months, I’ve noticed a few things that differ
from place to place….

1.    
Americans don’t realize how blessed they are to
live in the United States.

2.    
It’s totally a normal thing to eat dog almost
everywhere else in the world.

3.    
There are fewer car accidents in other countries
because they don’t have very many traffic laws, and are simply courteous and
aware that there are other people on
the road.

4.    
America is the only country in the world with
one dialect.

5.    
People are kinder to each other when they have
less materialism in their lives.

6.    
Other first world countries don’t like
Americans, yet most third world countries love them.

7.    
Most people have not been taught in third world
countries that it’s rude to stare or point.

8.    
It’s completely normal for a woman to openly
breast feed in public.

9.    
Many third world countries still live in earlier
centuries, technology-wise.

Every
race and ethnicity looks different, yet they are all absolutely beautiful.

There are countless other things, of course, that are
different. In fact, almost nothing is the same as it is in America. But among
all the differences I’ve observed and found, I’ve discovered several universal
things that are the same. They are the things that connect every living soul on
Earth; they are the things that make it possible for us to relate to people
anywhere in the world. It’s the perfect plan of Jesus, really.

1.    
Everyone smiles in the same language. No matter
where you go, you can smile at someone and they can smile back, and you’ve just
shared a moment, whether it felt like anything or not.

2.    
Everyone cries. I was asked once why people cry.
I’d never thought about it before. But I said, “I think people cry because in
that moment, the emotion filling up their heart is just too big to keep inside.
Whether they be tears of sorrow and pain, or of joy and happiness, it can’t
stay cooped up inside, and crying is the way we release those emotions.” We all
feel pain. We all feel joy. We all cry when we have nothing else to do.

3.    
Everyone laughs. I think this is very similar to
the explanation of tears. Laughter is simply the releasing of joy. And whenever
you hear someone laugh, you know that they’re reacting to the emotion inside of
them.

4.    
Everyone enjoys music. Anytime a good song comes
on, people can’t help but dance or sing along. You can’t help it. Music means
so much more in different tribes and nations, but no matter where you are,
people love music.

In fewer words, everyone feels in the same language. There are no language barriers when it
comes to giving someone a hug, or a smile, or showing them love. When someone
else feels pain, and tears follow after, your heart hurts with them, even
though you don’t understand what they’re crying about. Watching people cry, or
hearing them laugh, or sharing a smile…you become one. These are the things
that tie people together. And all of these things come from Jesus Christ. So,
when it all comes back around, the only universal thing in the world is Jesus
Christ, even when people haven’t heard His name, or don’t call on His name. In Colossians,
it says that He holds all things together. Of course, it’s true. We’re all held
together as one through Jesus Christ.