Have you ever had a “bigger than this” experience? They are the experiences that remind us that “our world” is not synonymous with “the world.” A person confined to the urban projects, a drug infested world dominated by the fear and intimidation of gangs, somehow gets the opportunity to visit a farm where the doors are unlocked at night, where everyone says “hello” and where wide open spaces provide a leisurely home to wild animals intermingling with farm animals. You can see the look on that person’s face. You can hear it in their conversations when they return to the projects. “There is a world bigger than this?” Somehow their heart changes, their mind enlarges and their thoughts of future possibility shifts. A young man from an impoverished urban setting visited our rural home and shared that very experience with us.
The opposite experience is just as transforming. A middle class, suburban American travels to the inner city or the developing world abroad. They are thrust into a place where safety cannot be assumed, where hygiene is challenged, where unfamiliar language and culture hamstring confidence and where the ravages of poverty impact everyone and everything in sight. You can see a similar look on that person’s face. You can hear it in their conversations when they return to the cul-de-sac and to friends at the office. “There is a world bigger than this?” Somehow their heart changes, their mind enlarges and their thoughts of future possibility shifts. I had such experiences years ago on U.S. and foreign soil.
There truly is a shock associated with leaving familiar culture. Culture shock is not a buzzword, but a reality encountered countless times every year. But, what do we do with it. There are three clear possibilities. First, one can simply experience the shock without letting it inform their life and behavior. That is a wasteful shame of an eye opening, reality stretching experience. Second, one can react so severely that the shock drives them to reject their present reality and circumstance to engage thoroughly in the new culture. That has some benefit for the individual experiencing the change and perhaps the new culture, but does little to alter the world around in the current circumstance. Third, one can respond to the totality of their experience- engage the new culture and its inhabitants as well as engage the old culture with an eye to shape it. This seems to bear great potential. With feet squarely in two worlds, the person can influence both. Jesus did that.
One may or may not agree with that assessment. But, something that is the biggest shame of all is when a Christian does everything within their power to avoid experiencing the shock. Cocooning is not healthy. Isolationism benefits no one. Narrowness is never a stretching or growing experience. The Bible is rife with examples of people who jumped over enormous cultural chasms in service of God- Jesus being the most obvious of all of them. Our lives grow, our ministries expand and our world enlarges when we experience the unfamiliar while engaging unfamiliar people.
In the Free Methodist Church, we have enough denominational ministry and partnering ministry to give people a little healthy shock. Try an inner city or suburban or rural outreach for a change- whichever takes you out of your common experience. Take a missions trip. Log onto fmwm.org or edenprojects.org or heavenlytreasures.org or clearbleproject.com or contact Brothers Keeper in Flint, Michigan or any host of Christian brothers and sisters who would be delighted to help you experience life changing shock. Take a look around you. Now say, “There is something bigger than this.” You have taken the first step.