An Anglo-American Perspective
Recently I talked with a friend about the subtleties of British life and how I thought that it might be interesting for American women to understand a different perspective. I mentioned the British class system and the ways that different aspirations, depending on a person’s class, can affect peoples’ view of life dramatically. My friend was unaware of the class system in Britain and it seems relevant that my first posts should give you an insight into my background. My response to what I see and hear is influenced by my experiences growing up. I have a bias towards favoring certain styles or opinions.
Hampshire country lane
At a recent dinner with friends we mentioned port. In England, at least in my sub-culture, port was a sophisticated, expensive drink offered at the end of a formal dinner. Men were offered port and the women withdrew to the drawing room (or originally withdrawing room) otherwise known as sitting room or lounge. The men passed the port round the table. However it was always polite and dignified and this port ritual was in many respects a sign of refinement, although there was always the possibility of excess. In contrast, our friends, considered port to be the cheap drink for drunkards. This made me realize that as we talk about different habits and customs or even mention the word “port” with American friends a totally different picture develops in our minds.
My response to life has a distinct flavor and my British attitudes are quite possibly merging with Californian ones so that my response is becoming mid-Atlantic. What cultural influences flavo(u)r your response to life?
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Sian this is amazing and so are you I love you Glenda
I was born in Iowa and grew up on a farm. My hometown of about 1600 people was small, everyone knew each other, there was a Christian School and a Public School, 5 churches, 2 grocery stores, and being good at sports was the in-thing. I wasn’t good at sports. I loved to read! Growing up on a farm taught me how to work hard when the work needed to get done and play hard when the work was done, and go to church on Sunday. My family wasn’t poor, we didn’t have to do without much. My life now still contains those values I learned from my parents and community, except I think sports suck and pro-sports are over-rated! The communities around my hometown were all white, farming communities. The first African-American family to move into the county caused quite a stir in the late 1970’s. I didn’t understand the fuss, because according to the Bible, we are all God’s people. That was my first reaization that those Christian people in my community were hipocrites. And I couldn’t wait to leave that community, because people didn’t love everybody like the Bible said. Now, I will be 45 in two days, and I am very proud of my upbringing and of being a farm girl. But I hate that small town thinking and I hate those who say they are Christians but are hipocrites towards people of other cultures. I wish I could get rid of the bitterness but I haven’t been able to forgive. Darcy
A small community and wholesome values are good and life on a farm must have been worthwhile and fun. However, as kids we can assume that adults in our community are who they say they are and when their behavior is inconsistent with their claims our faith in them and in what they stand for can be ruined. It seems to me that many of those “Christian people’ in your community were not Christians at all. Jesus says in Matthew 7 that like trees we will recognize whether people are Christians by their “fruit”. In the same way that good trees bear good fruit, Christians will behave as Jesus did and love God and their neighbors of every race and class. They will bear good “fruit”. When a person becomes a Christian he repents of his selfish past and is forgiven and changed, to become a radically different person filled with the Holy Spirit. Christians are still tempted to do wrong and make mistakes but if someone persistently fails to love his neighbor, it is likely that he is not a Christian.
Sadly many people call themselves Christians but they do not obey Jesus and they do not allow him to change them. They tend to misrepresent Christ and act hypocritically. Jesus was also infuriated by such people. Many of the religious leaders of his day were in his opinion “white washed tombs.”(Matthew 23: 27) They looked the part but underneath they were spiritually dead and their words and actions showed their hypocrisy.
I think that it’s important that we don’t let hypocrites affect our
faith. We must focus on Jesus and apply his words to our lives. Forgiveness is always a challenge. It is made easier when we remember that we are all born with a desire to rebel against God. We are all guilty and in desperate need of God’s forgiveness. When we come to him like small children seeking his help and his mercy, he forgives us and gives us the changed heart necessary for us to forgive others. In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul writes “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” As I say to my kids: ” Just do it.” Forgive because Jesus says so and Jesus knows best.
I am very excited to read all your “blogs”! I intend to read them all and catch up! My life influences were from my parents and they are delightful. My Dad was a true artist both on paper and with landscape and building design. He was also a musician, an athlete and a Navy pilot. We went to church but were not “churchy”. Billy Graham introduced us all to Jesus. Our home was safe, secure, pretty, peaceful and non-judgmental. All of us learned to love nature and see what a miracle life was here. Life was simple and people were loved. This has had a huge influence in how I want to live my life now and in how I see God.