:
·
Blog: My Family Culture
Imagine the following:
A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.
- A description of the three items you would choose, 1. A small bible, 2. Reading glasses, 3. A cell phone
· How you would explain to others
what each of these items means to you. The bible because it is the source of the description of the faith and religion that I profess. A pair of glasses, so I can read and study my small bible. A cell phone, so I can see if I can contact other refugees and family members.
o One personal item and have to give up
the other two items you brought with you. The only small item that I would keep would be my small bible and hope that somebody will give me a pair of glasses because unless God heals my eyes, I would need the glasses to read the bible.If someone would not give me a pair of glasses, I would use this situation to seek the gift of healing, so I can use this as something to help myself and others. The gift of healing would be a testimony of my faith that Jesus the Christ is God and is real. I also can give my family hope by carrying and reading the bible. I possibly could use my bible to advance Christianity in another culture. My family's goal one day will be to seek the advancement of Christianity, so a bible is a staple of that advancement.
·
Any insights you gained about
yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in
general, as a result of this exercise. My insights are: I know that I am a Christian and my faith maybe challenged in another country.My education also may be challenged because of my gender in another culture or country. I know that my family culture has been based on going to church and/or depending on God. My grandfather was a faithful deacon. My maternal grandmother took her bible with her when she stopped working for pay everywhere she went. I believe she was buried with her bible. My mother use to read her bible just about everyday, she also prayed and asked ministers for prayers as well by writing to them. I have a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University. I also am getting ready to start a research ministry called the Trumpet Sound Bible Club which is a research outreach ministry hopefully one day it will become an outlet of Duke University school of Divinity. The reason why I chose glasses is not because necessarily it is a part of my family culture, but I need them to read and so I can finished my degrees, the glasses can symbolize academic success in my family because my mother was the valedictorian of her high school glass. My grandchildren have made the honor rolls in their elementary schools. My middle granddaughter has made straight A.s she and my grandson has made the honor roll.I know that when I was in high school I was an avid reader. I did not study or do my homework that much until I was a senior in high school. However, I loved reading books, Taylor Caldwell was my favorite author.I vow one day that I am going to be an author. My other granddaughter has made straight B's. The cell phone symbolizes that my family now in this generation does not always use cards to get in contact with each other, we mainly call or text one another if we do not visit each other. Now getting back to the bible, I know that if I had to live in another country with a different culture, I may have to sneak the bible into their country because I may be killed for possessing a Christian bible. However, if I was where I suppose to be in God, I would die for Jesus the Christ. As for the glasses symbolizing reading and education, some cultures may not approve of women reading or getting an education. Consequently, carrying the glasses can be dangerous. Cell phone use which is taking for granted in the United States can be dangerous as well because there maybe someone listening in on your conversations. I think this happens sometimes in America, but in some countries listening on people's conversations is wide spread.If I had to live in another country with a different culture from what I am accustomed to I may have to die for what I believe in, advance to and help others with what I already know, also can do, and be a revolutionary for what I am accustomed to. I know that I cannot do this in a foolish manner, I would ask God for guidance before advancing my culture into a country with a different culture. My insights based on the above is that I believe in the advancement of Christ and want my families' goals to be the same. I believe in getting an education, and want my family to advance their education. Finally, families should stay in contact with each other and help others.
c
o
