It would be rare day for me to leave my hostile and not be taunted. Yes, skirts down past my knees usually to my ankles, and shoulders are always covered. Yet I walk down the road for not even five minutes and should I expect nothing less then to get shouts from men, seductive stares, as well as the occasional inappropriate hand jester. It is not at all for reasons of flattery, but because I am an object for nothing of value but of temporary pleasure.
The contact I am working for has to give classes to the men in this area explaining to them that gang rape is actually not an acceptable way to live…
I read stories about these classes in local newspaper clippings- the men leave the classes shocked and enlightened.
I find myself in a weird jumble.
Literally I ride in a van an hour away in a sweltering temperatures. Shortly I find myself within a community of serenity. They men do not shout out at you, but they smile. Smiles of friendship not of seduction. The children embrace me, sing songs with me, and when I have to leave they chase down my van screaming “I love you” and throw pink velvet flowers in through my windows. Moments like these…
But what is the difference? Why does this happen?
Christ happens.
In Islamic communities where women have no value and are looked at more or less as objects, no wonder why I actually get used to the shouts of men.
In places where I am allowed to share of the love of Christ to children and they grow up to be men of God- no wonder I expect nothing other than a smile.
Sin nature views women as objects.
I think back to Genesis. Adam roamed the Earth just himself and God. He was still longing for something to be filled within him. God does not give him and object to satisfy his needs- but gives him a partner. A companion in life. They were a team. It was not until after the fall when Adam was given dominion over the woman and named her Eve. From then on women were not viewed as the same.
They we get to the time of Jesus. He claims that men and women, Jews and Gentiles are the same. Same value, same worth. Simply different roles. That is all. When the world can see the love of that Christ has poured on us, and the men see that they are made in the image of Christ , that is when they view women with the love of Christ. Not as an object, but as the church.
I am praying and longing to see a difference here. For the men to be able to make this switch. For them to know of Christ and His bride. So that the women in their lives will have a chance to feel real love, not just something arranged to satisfy.
It just seems impossible sometimes because of the laws against hearing the truth in this country. But it is not a God forsaken country because my God is bigger than it.
That is all. Join me in prayer.
Psalms 27:3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise against me, yet I will be confident.
XX
