In America, or Canada, when you pass people on the street, we say, “Hi. How are you?” and keep walking, barely even hearing their response. I would venture to say, nine time out of ten, we don’t really care how they’re doing. It’s just a courtesy. It’s really unfortunate how independent we are in North America – so focused on our own goals and missions that we don’t have time to invest in those around us. I know this isn’t true across the board and it’s not my intention to stereotype, but for the most part, I think I present a valid case.
Here in Zambia (and last month in Malawi), whenever you pass someone on the street, they will make eye contact, slow down an little, or even stop, and ask the same question, “How are you?” Those same words, but they seem to mean so much here. They really want to know how you’re doing. Last week, in the grocery store, a random stranger came up to me and two of my teammates and shook each of our hand and asked how we were each doing. It’s a culture of intentionality and its amazing!
?This is also the culture we are trying to create within our squad. A squad mate asked me the other day how I was doing and I really didn’t know how to answer. I have trained myself for so long to be “fine” that I really don’t think I know how I’m doing. Because I didn’t know what else to do, I responded with, “I feel like that is such a loaded question around here.” to which he replied, “it is. How are you doing?” I then sat there and stumbled through something that probably made no sense as i tried to evaluate how I really was doing rather than just saying, “Fine.”
If one of my jobs here on earth is to minister to those around me by building them up and pushing them to Christ, how am I supposed to do that when I don’t even know how I am doing? It’s time to stop hiding behind a facade and be real. Let people in. Be vulnerable. I’m learning what that looks like. I’ve just turned 30 and I’m learning that I know very little about myself. But that’s a good place to be. I can’t learn something until I know that I don’t know it.
I am excited for new opportunities that will be opened up to get to know people and be known on a deeper level. We were created for community. Vulnerability is hard, but it’s worth it. Know and be known!
