At the moment I’m seated in the gate area for my flight to Addis Ababa from Dulles. The morning is a cool 37degrees, the sky a fresh, pale blue, following upon a flaming sunrise – but in truth, my mind and heart are not focused upon these. Instead, my thoughts center upon the last forty-eight hours.
For instance, I am abundantly aware of the great plenty that is ours as Americans. On Tuesday, after talking via Skype with the former stated clerk of the Kaning’a church, I easily promised to provide yet another 100 folders/binders for the training of elders and deacons. Each of these folders contains 25 pages of printed material, double-sided. And so I made a quick trip to Office Max, and equally quickly purchased the needed folders, having no doubt that I’d find what I wanted. I then drove to the office of a dear friend, who had already begun printing the material on his office photocopier – a copier that collates, prints double-sided, and punches the necessary three holes.
My description here, whether hackneyed or not, is nonetheless commonplace for us – but not for Malawians. In comparison to the US, paper is a rare commodity even in the capitol city of Lilongwe. And although my friend gulped (graciously), when he learned that I had doubled the quantity of desired folders, he complied,: once again my thoughts turned to the plenty that we view as normative – and the adage: to whom much has been given, much will be required.
My thoughts also pondered anew the nature of “honor,” for I am now beginning to appreciate that Malawian culture is much more an honor-based culture, than is our egalitarian, rights-based culture. Yesterday a wise friend helped me recognize that last year, when kidney stones curtailed my efforts in Malawi, when I became fully dependent upon the care and wisdom of the Kaning’a church leadership, I had not become a “liability”; but rather, inadvertently I afforded them the opportunity to honor me with their care. For some years I’ve recognized that some times we serve best by allowing others to serve us – which is difficult for those of who actively seek control. But I had never thought of such service in terms of“honor.” I’m uncertain the direction my “honor thinking” might lead, but I am more mindful that as I seek to honor Malawians I might do so by allowing them to honor me – hopefully apart from friendly stones.
Faithfully,
Stan