This got me thinking. It's true I have a heart for "the world." I just got back from India two weeks ago in an attempt to better learn how to love another culture. I realized, though, that in our day and age, it's really hip to love the world. Travel is très chic, globes are a must-have home accessory and Instagram photos of rustic maps are sure to get a solid amount of likes. But what does loving the world truly look like? What does it actually look like besides maps on your wall and stamps in your passport? I really can only speak for myself, so here is what loving the world looks like to me:
Prayer
I truly believe there is no better way to love the world than to pray for it. Why? Because we live in a big world. There is always something to pray for. You may not be able to touch every life with service, but you sure as heck can pray for God's power to do so for every life. Prayer keeps your focus on the bigger picture of what the Lord has done, is doing and is going to do in our world. Prayer is the precursor for action. God hears and answers prayers. I use several tools to practically pray for the world, one of which is the book Operation World. This book is so useful in not only guiding you in prayer but also in teaching about the world. It contains so much information on the political, religious, demographic, etc. make-up of each continent and country.
Laying Down My Own Culture
I am a born and raised American. Not only that, I am from Texas. I love my country for the opportunity and freedom I have as a citizen. I love my state in part because my state loves itself... but also because it's a good state. I've had a great time living in Texas. The trap that is easy to fall in to, though, is being culturally snobby. If a person of any country is not aware of just how many other cultures there are in the world, then it becomes easy for him or her to view their own particular culture in a glorified manner. I do not wish to glorify my own culture above any other culture. I choose to understand that there are so many cultural differences, (not bad things about other cultures but simply different things about other cultures), and that mine is not special in any way. This is my own choice. This is how I choose to view my culture in light of others. It has been hard in some instances to set my culture aside. I've been in countries where I was frustrated at their lack of customer service or at their different understanding of what being pushy in a bus stop meant. But I have seen over and over the value of learning and accepting culture differences, especially in light of living out the gospel. Across the board cultures have different understandings of personal space, comfort, religion, money, etc. It does me no good to view my U.S. culture in a manner higher than other cultures. I am very grateful for my country. I'm also keen on learning about other countries and learning how to respect other cultures and religions.
Learning
Which leads me to this aspect of loving the world: learning about it. What good is a world traveler who knows little about the world? What good is a world traveler who thinks they know everything there is to know about this big, vast world? What good is a person who loves the Lord and His creation and does little to learn about it? These are all questions I ask myself. This is one way I practically love the world. When you meet an international person in the U.S., it means a lot to them if you know something about their home or if you're interested in learning about or visiting their home.
The way I learn about the world varies. This semester I'm taking two classes related to understanding the world through the lens of the gospel. Learning world history is another practical thing. Keeping up with the news from different types of sources is another. I read books and watch films of other cultures. There are so many ways to learn and even more things to learn. We will never be finished learning.
Going
This is the funnest way of loving the world—traveling it. I'm no expert on this stuff. I haven't been to a whole lot of countries. I don't know five languages. I'm not unlike most people my age who have ambitions to travel. I'm no special thing. But this is my heart. My heart is going and experience other cultures, being challenged in my own, laying down comfort and convenience, and living out the treasure of the gospel amongst other peoples. I don't travel just to travel. It's fun and enlightening sometimes, but the world is about a lot more than me, and I'm learning not to be selfish about it. I also know the world is all around me. Sometimes going to the world doesn't mean hopping on a plane but it means visiting my Indian friends in the next city over and learning their language while sharing a meal. Sometimes it means going to a cross cultural event and learning something new even while still in Texas. What?! Yes.
This is not an exhaustive list. It's a big world!! In what ways do you love the world? In what ways can you challenge other people to better love the world? Let me know! I'm eager to know :)
-Leah
