Cultural Understanding and Humility

Over the course of most days, in my interactions with Nicaraguans, there are regularly moments when I feel emotionally blind. I have no sense of what the other person is feeling, what they might be expecting of me, whether they find me strange. This for me is the essence of cultural ignorance.

I’m regularly making mental commitments to try harder to understand what this culture is all about. I hate feeling emotionally blind way, partly, because I’m afraid I may be offending others. For example, if I’m at a party and have been talking to someone for a while, and the conversation subsides but I’m not actually leaving the party, is it necessary to close off the conversation somehow? (‘I should go see how my wife is doing’, or ‘I think I see some leftover chicken legs’ or the last ditch ‘Well…….see you later’) Maybe I simply walk away? But if I walk away, am I seen as rude? On the other hand, if I am always providing some lame explanation for why I’m going somewhere, will I be seen as strange or insecure?

This business of seeming strange or insecure is especially troubling. I like to know when people are looking down on me. In the case of my work, I may be reflecting badly on the organization. I may be losing legitimacy as the person ‘in charge’. I may be losing opportunities to foster relationships in the future, and so on and so on. There are plenty of excellent reasons why it would be irresponsible to resign myself to potential condescension. However, when it comes down to it, there is something in me which simply hates the idea that someone else may be looking down their nose at me. And I want to know exactly when they start thinking it, precisely so I can put them straight.

I’m always startled (and horrified) at the ease with which pride can accommodate itself in virtually any part of my life. One would think that the desire for understanding between cultures would be safe ground. It shouldn’t surprise me I suppose. Pride tends to find its home in the shadows of my highest and most righteous ambitions. Of course greater understanding between cultures is a good thing. Cultural misunderstanding is responsible for all kinds of unnecessary prejudices and miscommunications. (Although it can also a handy card to play if you simply don’t like the look of someone.) But it is precisely because cultural understanding is an important and legitimate concern that pride so inconspicuously slides itself in and starts driving. Perhaps this happens because I spend so much time standing back to admire the ambitions themselves.

As always, I have found my newest attempts at humility to be extremely freeing. Recognizing how much ego was really involved in trying to understand this culture, I’ve found that it is now a much more laid back process. I find myself being more genuine. Most people are thoroughly forgiving of my cultural blunders (as I had known all along, in the back of my mind, that they would be). I still worry about committing unknowing offenses, but sincerity and more humility tend to be sufficient safeguards in most of these situations. There is more joy in the new discoveries, and less pressure.

Verily, verily I say to you, vanity is a relentless taskmaster. Jesus’ yoke is lighter.

- Luke

Casa Zaragoza

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