I have lived as an ex-pat (foreigner) for most of my life. This has given me a unique perspective. While my passport says that I’m an American, my experience says otherwise. My parents were born in Finland and emigrated to the USA before I was born. I was born in New York into a thoroughly Finnish home. It wasn’t until I went to school that I became fluent in English. In my early 20s, I moved to Africa and have lived there ever since, save for a short time in France to learn French and a couple of extended stays in the USA.
A bit like a nomad
I feel a bit like a nomad, someone without a country. On a few occasions, when traveling to the USA, I’ve been told that I’m “too African to understand” cultural topics. This wasn’t said in a bad way, but more as a matter-of-fact statement. I was at first a bit hurt to hear such statements. However, as time passed, I made an effort to see myself through the other person’s eyes. I’ve lived a very different life and am definitely in a category of my own (together with my husband and kids, of course).
This isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing; it just is. I used to apologize for how different I was; I would be silent when conversations leaned in directions that I was just “too African” for. Slowly, I began to look down on who I was and what I did for the sake of fitting in. While I was safe from being cast aside for not fitting in, this approach didn’t work well. In the end, I was conflicted about feeling ashamed. I didn’t like to think that I was ashamed of who I was or what I did, but that feeling slowly began to creep up inside of me.
We all have a unique perspective
"But you ask, 'How have we shown you disrespect?' You show it by bringing unclean food to my altar. But you ask, 'What make it unclean?' It is unclean because you didn't respect the altar of the Lord." Malachi 1:6,7 NCV
We all have the blessing of serving God with whatever we are doing. And we all have a unique perspective. If we become ashamed or embarrassed because we are serving God, we aren’t respecting the altar God has given us to serve Him. Honoring that altar of service, no matter where it is or what it is, makes our offering (our service) to Him clean. Otherwise, it’s not worth giving to Him.
I’ve learned to embrace my altar of service. Just like you can’t serve at my altar, I can’t serve at yours. May we honor one another for who we are because we serve the same Master. Understanding how God makes us all unique with a unique perspective helps us love one another better.
Thank you so much Pastor Lea for that great perspective on how we must honor the mission and the altar the Lord has given us. Whatever it is, serving God is our ultimate purpose and our obedience to serve our ultimate goal in life. I am no stranger to being a stranger in another country! This sounds funny, but having ended up in America after my parents died was no accident, it was the Lord’s will for me to be here. He had an ultimate goal and purpose for my life and each and every year I see that goal more and more clearly. I am learning to realize more and more it is not about us, it is about our service to others on behalf of the Lord. We are just passing through on our way to heaven and so bringing other lives, other souls with us, is an amazing and honoring goal to have in life as we serve the Lord and seek His will!