the memories of culture

Amsterdam Market
Originally uploaded by Photo Doocker.

Jayla just forwarded me this wonderful explanation of what its like for someone with a global mind, someone who thinks and breathers globally...

"To the extent we identify with people of another culture and become global, we find ourselves alienated from our kinsmen and friends in our homeland. It is a basic difference in how we now look at things. We have moved from a philosophy that assumes uniformity to one that has to cope with variety, and our old friends often don't understand us when we return.

In one sense, global people never fully adjust to one culture, there own or their adopted one. Within themselves they are part of both. When abroad they dream of their home country, and need little rituals that reaffirm this part of themselves-a food package, a letter, a visitor. When in their home country, they dream of their adopted country, and need little rituals that reaffirm this part of themselves-a visitor from that country, a meal, etc. Global people seem happiest when they are flying from one country to another."

It really hit home for us as just last night we were thinking about how wonderful some of the Dutch culture is and how we miss it. It is a beautiful thing to enjoy so much about the world and to think about culture and God and world redemption in the same breath. It is the breath of like in fact, and for me it is all there is. So long as I only think of my world, I am doomed to myself.