Reflections from a Week in Culture Shock
Yeah, you have some crime. But you don’t need bars on your windows, a wall around your house, and a private security company to keep you safe. You can walk down the street with a purse on your arm and not worry about it being grabbed by someone in a moving car. You can leave chairs on the sidewalk on the 4th of July, and no one takes them.
You can worship who you want, when you want, and where you want. You can even convert to a different religion if you want to, and practically no one will care. You certainly won’t be arrested for it.
Your stores are stuffed with food, and never run out. If they happen to run out of the exact flavor of cream cheese that you want, there are big apologies, and you just go to a different store. You even are given the luxury of worrying about whether or not something is “organic” or “genetically modified.” And if you are down on your luck, there are thousands of churches or food banks or welfare offices ready and waiting to pass out food for free.
When a woman goes into labor, sometimes you worry about the baby, but you hardly ever worry about the mom. A baby that dies in childbirth is an epic tragedy (as it should be), so much so that even strangers on Facebook send you their condolences. Losing a child (or two, or three) is not normal life for you. You don’t think about how you’re just happy to have survived childbirth yourself.
You have clean drinking water that comes out of every tap in your house. You don’t have to walk five miles to find water that’s full of cholera. In fact, you are even given the luxury of not liking the taste of that water, so you spend your money on water in bottles.
Your thrift stores are given so many of your cast-off clothes that they are only able to sell a small portion. Your family lives in an entire house, not just one room in a house. And even then, you have to rent a storage unit because you can’t fit all of your stuff into it.
Your children’s childhoods are valued. You have parks everywhere with colorful slides and Children’s Museums and kids’ menus at restaurants and swimming pools in your backyard. They are not expected, or needed, to haul water or dig farms when they are six years old.
It is assumed your children will be part of the 7% of the world with a college degree. They have one teacher to 30 children, instead of one teacher to 100 children. They have books and markers and colorful room decorations. Each child has his own desk with his name on it, instead of three children crammed onto one desk. This education is free, and if you are not satisfied with it, you are given the freedom to educate them yourself, at home–and you won’t be arrested for it.
If your child is born with a cleft pallet, there is no question of whether it will be fixed. You don’t worry about polio or malaria or cholera. You have a fair amount of confidence that your child will live until adulthood. If your child is bit by a snake or breaks a leg, you call a number and an emergency vehicle will be at your door in five minutes. You don’t have to worry about how you will get your child (without a car) to a hospital (which may or may not have medicine that day) 50 miles away.
If you are pulled over by police, you are not expected to bribe them. Most of the time, you believe that the police are actually there to serve you and protect you, not rob you or rape you. If your house catches on fire, you are not forced to stand and watch it burn; you simply call a number and a fire truck will be there in five minutes.
For the most part, you know your taxes are not lining the pockets of your politicians. You get roads and schools and libraries. It is not an assumption that your elections are rigged, and the losing party will not start a riot that kills hundreds of people. Your government has checks and balances, and you are not ruled by a ruthless dictator who feeds people to his crocodiles for fun.
Middle Class America, I know your lives aren’t perfect.
But to whom much has been given, much will be expected.
Babu
Wow…I think that we live in Disneyland, don't we?
Babu
Anonymous
Statements like this are really frustrating. I find it offensive that you assume that because I'm a middle class American means that I get unreasonably upset when the grocery store is out of the brand of cream cheese that I want.
Because I have a middle class friend who lives in a "safe" neighborhood in the States whose house was broken into twice in less than three weeks. His remaining possessions literally will fit in a suitcase – with room to spare. I grew up in town where Christian organizations were banned from school (but those of other religions were allowed). My mother's life was in jeopardy when I was born – and several days after. My aunt lost two children. I work at a hospital where I encounter many poor families with health insurance – and just as many middle class families without it. There are multiple public school districts in my state that are no longer K-12 because they don't have the money to fund all 13 grades.
Yes, sometimes middle class Americans are selfish – but so are poor Americans, wealthy Americans and even individuals who live in other countries. Living in a country other than the States does not make one immune from selfishness.
I know someone who owed $25,000 in student loans. He received a check from a friend who never attended college who felt God leading him to give his entire savings to pay off the first person's student loans. As someone with student loans myself, it can be easy to think "why me?" But I also know that God has a different path for everyone and something that might seem like an "easy" burden for me, might be extremely difficult for someone else. So, I try not to judge (but admit that I'm not always successful, as I am human).
There's also a danger in complacency. If Americans were satisfied with simply having a better crude birth rate than other countries, my father would have died when I was 7, because treatment that ended up curing his cancer never would have been discovered. Even as it is, I have a friend whose father died last year because we still don't have cures for all illnesses.
I believe middle class Americans should try to be grateful for what they have and realize that there are those who are less fortunate than them. But I also believe that they have many valid concerns and appreciate their drive to make the world a better place.
Gaga, the Imperfect But So Blessed!
Dear Anonymous: obviously this message didn't apply to you then, you little Pharisee. Sometimes the message isn't all about you. Relax.
Gaga, the Imperfect But So Blessed!
Dear Anonymous: obviously this message didn't apply to you then, you little Pharisee. Sometimes the message isn't all about you. Relax.
Anonymous
Excellent message that drives me to appreciate all of the blessings that God has given me in spite of my daily, middle class, (albeit very real) problems. I just think that the naysayer earlier read in in the wrong spirit. I believe they probably benefitted from it as well, regardless of their comment 🙂 Thanks again for the great message!
Julie D
Thank you for a beautiful reminder of the importance of gratitude and responsibility. Your words are well-spoken…to whom much is given, much is required. The challenge for us in middle America is to recognize the responsibility that comes with inordinate blessing!
We have served on many short-term missions projects in Ethiopia and our son is there now for the summer working on a clean water project.
I have only a taste of what you have described, but I fully recognize the wisdom of your words.
As the saying goes, "Don't just count your blessings, share them!"
Be encouraged. Your words have been used to challenge and encourage us to think and act.
Blessings!
mikelynn91
Beautifully written and an excellent reminder. Praying for Anonymous who sounds bitter and missed the point entirely. Americans are blessed even IN our problems. Our first world problems are embarrassing in comparison to what others live with daily in other places. No one is suggesting not attempting to right the wrongs we encounter here in America. The suggestion is to put those problems in perspective and allow that to produce great gratitude.
Amy Medina
Anonymous–I hear what you are saying. My post was not directed towards every individual American. I do understand that many have lived "Job-like" lives that are terrible and full of tragedy. No question. I also did not intend to communicate that Americans are all selfish, self-centered, or get annoyed when their product is not available in the grocery store. I only meant to communicate what I have learned by living in Africa 10 years, and what I see in my own heart. These are simply general observations as I compare the two places.
Dean
Anonymous, I understand exactly where you are coming from.
Amy, thank you for showing the rest of the people commenting here how to respond with grace.
Stacey
The truth is we are not on a level playing field. Yes, those who have much are required to be generous, but that doesn't mean our lives are all roses and giggles. I'm kind of tired of the attitude that we have to always have a smile n our faces because someone always has it worse. Would we tell someone not to be happy because someone else has a better life? Never!
justin the lesser
While I agree that all Middle Class Americans' lives are easy for that in itself presents a whole different set of problems; such as greed, materialism, ungratefulness, etc. I still am always amazed and even shamed by how grateful those people are who do not have these same privileges Americans enjoy and are yet so full of gratitude for the little God has given them in comparison. It could also be said, to much Grace is given much gratitude is given back. And those who have been forgiven much (their greed, materialism, selfishness, pride, self-sufficiency, mistreatment of others, etc.); much Grace flows out of their hearts into the lives of other wretched people because they have found the life-giving, joy filled, eternal reward of knowing Christ. And when it comes to sin we are all great debtors who all need that divine Grace, completely undeserved, that flows from the Cross. Thank you for this vivid reminder of God's mercy to us.
justin the lesser
*NOT easy
Anne
Thank you for the reminder! Seriously. Many of us really need to hear this and I thank you for your courage to say it.
Unknown
Well said. It's obvious that not every middle-class North American would fit every single one of your descriptions but there is still much truth. Truth is sometimes painful for me but it's still true. Thanks for the good reminder.
Desperately.seeking.jesus
When I read a post I pray and ask the Lord to show me His wisdom in it. And because I trust His will in my life I know I'm not reading it by mistake or for no reason. He brought me here for a reason. I do believe strongly that the North American church is walking a tight rope of disobedience. I am on that same tight rope and constantly pursuing all that God can show me to jar me to the balance of pursuing Him fully through such an abundance of wealth and security that our society has avtendency to esteems sometimes above what God would have us do with those blessings. I wonder if one day my fat 401k will matter not to God over how many people I could have fed with that money and to be honest it scares me to the core. Thank you for your heartfelt words. I felt conviction but not criticism. It's for each of us to walk through on our own and encourage each other transparently and sincerely. I do not feel guilty about having a choice of cream cheese but I do feel conviction in not fully understanding what a really huge blessing that choice is. Simply an analogy. Many blessings and of course that you recognize them and do what the Lord would have you do with them.
Anonymous
We are mostly blessed here, but somehow I didn't see what is easier or better about other places than here. You don't have to worry about GMO and non organic food causing all kinds of diseases and horrible pain people are living in because of it. You also have the blessing of a full time maid doing all your laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc. For those of us who are doing it all by themselves day after day with 4 little ones, it can be a little disheartening to read of missionaries having enough to pay a full time maid and get to enjoy doing a lot more with their life than housework.