A Society of "We"

Since my first trip to a Third-World country I’ve heard about the differences in their culture and Western culture. It wasn’t until my last trip that I was able to actually experience it myself and it wasn’t until this trip that I have been able to truly appreciate it!

Society at home survives off each individual (or individual family) working hard, managing money, investments and materials well, and overall leading productive, honest lives. Independence is priceless!

Here in Ghana (and I think most of Africa) “independence” surely procures one’s death, well, symbolically anyway. If one is independent and refuses to fall into the “Society of We” then he (or she) is likely to be excluded from family if he hasn’t already done it himself. There is no place for “I” and “me” here because too much is at stake.

Greetings are a part of the “We.” When Godson comes to pick me up he typically parks the bike and walks to Pastor James’ house to greet him. I figured he did this because he knew he would have to wait on me. I recently realized this wasn’t the case. He goes to greet him because it’s important and it keeps his relationship with him close and lets him know that Pastor James is important to him. I'm sure there's more to it that I don't yet realize but I began to think of the people that I got close to last year and how I’ve neglected to greet some of them every day. Yes, I said every day.

Yesterday it was nearly dusk and I was weary after a day of traveling on a motorcycle down bumpy roads. I chose not to cook as it would have taken up the rest of my evening. So I decided to sit under the mango tree and read my Bible. After an hour or so, I decided I was too tired actually glean anything from my reading so I closed my Bible, drew my knees up to my chest and rested my head on my knees just enjoying the breeze and the warmth of the sun as it set. I was nearly asleep and I realized that I had not been to Pastor James’ house at all that day to greet him and his family. So I left my things under the tree and made my way to his house and spent about 20 minutes there visiting.

I mentioned “experiencing” the ‘Society of We’ last year. My place in this society could possibly be titled “provider,” while many around me would be labeled “taker.” It is only because of my skin color that people assume this is my role and they so willingly fulfill their role! While it’s true I do have access to more money than many around me, they don’t understand that money is designated or budgeted because here, in this Society, “We” means ‘all of us’. What one person has should be for any and all who need it at that very moment.

I have been careful, but I have chosen to fill more of my place in this Society. The Lord has provided, so prayerfully I seek ways that He would be honored in our giving.

So providing and greetings have become very important to me. Where before I would forget to acknowledge someone, now I am aware of all around me and make sure to take time to greet people. My practice at home, without realizing, became such that I would keep my eyes on the ground or look past a person to avoid an awkward moment. I have worked very hard to break this habit. Even just riding on the bike, as people wave and call out to me, I respond with a wave and big smile, often trying to see how many smiles I can get in return! Many times I am the first to wave and sometimes people respond and sometimes they do not.

Recently the ‘Society of We’ found me on the receiving end! The motorbike that we were traveling on has some mechanical problems and we were stranded mid-course. We walked to the nearest house and although we had not spoken to the people before, every time we passed I waved and smiled. Most of the time, they returned the greeting. They directed us toward what we needed and allowed us to store the bike at their place until we could return.

Now every time we pass the people, greetings are exchanged and Godson honks, a sign of a stronger friendship.

Here it’s similar to relationships in America in that no one wants to only be called on when someone needs something. How often do we hear the phrase spoken with disdain, “He/She only comes around when he needs something.”

Here it’s different than most relationships in America in that, when someone does something for someone, it grows the relationship. At home, I think at the very most it provides an attitude of gratitude for the one receiving the help, but most of the time, the person helping does so reservedly.

I actually found myself on the receiving end several times this week and because of that I feel like I have more of an appreciation for this Society and more of an appreciation to be able to assist others. While it doesn’t seem to make sense within our own Western context, it works here! People cannot make it without each other. One person will not have significantly more (material things) than another and if by chance they are given some things they will do their best to hide it so no one will think they are holding out in this Society.

This “Society of We” reminds me of what Luke writes about in Acts 2…how believers were selling their possessions and goods and giving the money to anyone who was in need. Again in chapter four he writes, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but the shared everything they had...There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

Every time I read these things in Acts and elsewhere in the Word, I am struck by the selflessness involved and how the people’s hearts were so much for each other in Christ. To me that is truly incredible and seen more in this society than my own (although it is evident in some ways there too.)

I purchased some minutes for the phone for someone and one of the first things he did was transfer half of it to his mother. Another person I gave some ice cream and when a child asked him for it, he gave it to him. If I prepare an “American dish” for someone or one family, it is shared with all around. Children actually share toys here too! Go figure!!

Many fault Society’s like this one. I’ve been one who did so. But now I repent! J I think I would rather live a life with others than just among them.

That being said, there are still downfalls within the church. I've noticed that people are more ready to give to family etc. than to the church and the work within. Commitment is more to tradition and peer expectations than to our Savior Himself.

Please pray for believers here, that they would allow the Holy Spirit to remove the 'scales of tradition and the law' from their eyes that they might experience the freedom in Christ and that they might be able to give freely and joyfully knowing the Lord will provide every need. Pray that believers here in the 'Society of We' would be "one in heart and mind" just as the first believers were! And in fact, we can pray this for our own selves and our churches as well!!

Thank You Father for Your continued faithfulness to guide and teach through Your Spirit! Thank You for teaching me in this Society. Thank You for the encouragement and correction within my own heart as a result! Oh Father, I pray that You would guide each of us who are living under Your Name, Your call and Your Son, that we would begin/continue to grow hearts for others, so that we might be able to honestly say, that we are "one in heart and mind." Thank You for hearing Your children as we come. Amen.