Backing in like an Elephant

Prelude :: I've been thinking a lot about my 2 months in California this summer. I've also been thinking a lot about world religions and what I saw there. I've been trying to figure out why we have such a hard time identifying with people of different religions...especially if we're Christians...is there some sort of persona we put out there that automatically makes us offensive? Or is it the fact that the enemy hates us so much, he'll stop at nothing to gang all other religions up against the only Truth that's out there? Probably some of both. :: 

I learned a lot about other religions in California, but one analogy I heard a speaker give has stuck with me...

{{"When an elephant wants a drink of water, but finds that the watering hole is being overtaken by a herd of elephants, here's what he does... Instead of forcefully plowing through, he uses the tactic of backing in slowly. Literally, he will turn around and enter the herd, rear end first, slowly and carefully nudging his way in. Eventually the other elephants realize what he's doing and let him in to drink as well"}}

The way an elephant goes about getting "immersed" is rather entertaining, however, I also see a crucial lesson that can be drawn from it.

Elephants, to me, are a picture of humility.

We each have a "package"-defined as the sort of person we are (our looks, character, actions, words, presence, persona). The "package" we bring will inherently bring some sort of message to people whether we want it to or not. As they get to know us-the package unwraps.

Unfortunately, not many people are willing to take the time to unwrap. Our culture is one based off of first impressions. Our "package", in most cases, defines us. And If we're not careful, this can be and IS the way most people view Christians. By our "package." Nothing more. My question is, "what does our package look like?"

I saw many things during our temple visits in L.A.. One thing that surprised me was how friendly the people were within the context of their places of worship. I wondered if I were to have met anyone of them on the streets in LA, if they would have been this kind to me or just given a cold shoulder. But here they welcomed us! 

Our "package" we brought to the temples was one of humility...the package that probably gets left on the doorstep, or kicked to the curb. However, we went in there in with no more on our agenda than to simply learn from them. They saw this, and knew we weren't there to judge. Therefore, we were welcomed in to their community (or "herd").

us with Rajam

Time after time, this tactic of taking a "learner's attitude", served us well as we went to various places around the city.

At the Hindu Temple, I talked with a nice older Indian lady (Rajam) who was so impressed with the questions we were asking... and how we cared enough to even ask and wanted to know more about her, her religion, their rituals, and why it meant so much to them.

wearing our Haj-abs
 in front of the mosque

At the Islamic Mosque, I talked with a Muslim and complimented her on how beautiful her Haj-ab (headscarf) was. I told her I respected that they wear them and respected themselves so much as to dress that modestly...  Apparently, my comment shocked her almost to tears. I don't think anyone outside of her faith had ever paid her that kind of compliment before. 

It's amazing how much people will open up to you and how vulnerable they become once they know you genuinly care. 

This only came through humility and rendering myself of the right to be heard or the right to "my mission"...when it's not my mission anyway. It's God's. It is by grace I have been saved! Grace alone. I don't deserve grace. I didn't even deserve to hear the gospel. I could have been just as blind as so many other's out there who don't know His love.

But I'm here. by His Grace.

I laid down my rights when I chose to follow Him. And with that-my right to be right.

What's sad is that people expect that of us. I'm referring to Christians becasue we ought to know different. But people think we're all out there to judge and condemn, show them where we're right and they're wrong, and shove the truth down their throats without a thought to what they may think... This makes me sad, because I did that. And am just now seeing how wrong and prideful I was.

Nothing is less attractive to me than pride.

When I lay down my pride and accept people for the sole fact that they are all God's people and see them as equal objects of His love and mercy, than I may possibly understand, a little better, the secret of humility.

It's true what they say, "People aren't going to care what you know unless they know that you care."

So in taking on an elephants approach to other religions and, really, other people...I want to be someone who "backs in slowly", instead of "blazing a trail!", who thinks of the person rather than my agenda, and who always remains humble no matter what the circumstance.