While getting a coffee with a friend at the Calcutta airport, we ran into the sweetest older couple from Europe: Margaret and her husband Roy. We sat and talked with them about their world travels. And boy, they have been everywhere. They told us tales of cruising through Thailand, visiting 9 islands in the Caribbean, stories of picturesque golden beaches in west India, and plans to cruise the Nile this summer. We spoke of culture shock and cultural differences between so many diverse places. And that’s when Roy brought up his personal travel philosophy and I knew God had called me to talk with him.
He grew up in Calcutta and then moved to London when he was 18 where he met his wife a few years later. He and Margaret still visit India often and love the city. As I asked him how it was to visit and see the city from a different perspective, he said, ‘When I travel here, I go about my way. I choose to look past the cultural differences I disagree with because this is no longer my country or my culture so I have no room to judge or complain. I believe that unless I can make a real difference, why should I interrupt their way of life. It’s not ours to change.’
And that just hit me. This is not my world. This is not my culture. These men and women find it normal and okay to go about life as they do. I’m the crazy american that has radically progressive thoughts. But Roy reminded me, I’m not here for politics. I’m here for God.
At home, I see God all around so my focus isn’t always on spreading his word and I can have my mind on other things. I can mention a friend that he should treat women better. I can let someone know they shouldn’t be judging those around them.
But where we’re going, they need God, not some crazy American pushing her ways on them.
At home I am a strong feminist and egalitarian. I fight for the little guy and the woman getting discriminated against. But in India, and other countries we will be visiting, I have to remind myself that this trip is about my belief in God, not society. It’s something that I have a hard time letting go. I am slowly learning the cultural norms of India and the way men and women interact in public spaces as spend our time here.
At home, I love walking down the street and smiling at all who pass me.
Here, I have to avoid looking at men straight in the eyes.
At home, I link arms with my guy friends and walk down the street laughing and joking.
Here, I would be expected to be sleeping with that man if I did.
I am encouraged to let men do the talking while I take a step back.
For those who know me, that is not who I am. I do the talking, I love to smile, I enjoy laughing hard and talking loud.
But here, my focus is on the Lord. Here, I will make difference in a different way. I am here to teach these men and women about God first and not to change a culture that doesn’t need to be changed, just enhanced with an amazing saviour with unending love.
I can’t wait to see how the Lord teaches me to not be bothered by the same things that have affected me at home. How he will stretch my beliefs and ideals and how he will teach me to take a step back and breathe. To focus on the right things and to let others slide
