It may not always seem different but people behave differently depending on whether they’re around peers, parents, culture, etc.  I don’t mean people are hypocrites.  I just mean there are different expectations imposed on people in different areas of life.

My work friend…

When I used to work at the bank a good friend of mine, Margarita, always seemed stressed.  Our managers were pressuring her to set a good example for the other tellers to get sales and, often times, she’d be the one to handle a lot of the managerial duties…even though she wasn’t a manager.

Outside of work she didn’t seem as anxious or annoyed at people.  She was actually a person with a gentle heart who made a lot of wonderful dishes.

In fact, when I needed someone to watch Gabe while my wife and I went to some event on a Saturday evening, she was totally up for it.  She even made my one of my son’s favorite meals…noodles.

And, when we attended her church for a charity event she helped us get situated, as her church consists mainly of Russian speaking members.

The lesson…

The point I’m trying to make is this: there’s more than one side to someone.

You might notice that your friend, who’s Chinese, is really quiet at work, but when he’s around his Chinese friends he’s actually really funny.  Or that boss who doesn’t seem to understand you is actually a strong family man.

I want to encourage you to really immerse yourself into the lives of those you’re trying to build a bridge with, especially those people who are from another culture.  There are aspects of their lives that we just won’t understand unless we’re spending time with them in the settings where they are most comfortable.

Have you ever been wrong about a person?  What caused you to think differently about them?  How does this related to building relationships with people of different cultures in a church setting?

Share your story and your life…

Sincerely,
Peter Park
Blogger/Worship Leader/Speaker
peterpark@redemptionboulevard.com
(800) 453-3284