i have decided…

that there are two things that are very consistent in Ethiopia.

1.     Dogs will bark through the night.

2.     Chanting will happen throughout the day.

Seriously. Dogs in Ethiopia are nocturnal. They are quiet and restful during the day but active and boisterous all night long. And when I say all night long, I mean… All. Night. Long. And when the dogs stop barking, the chanting begins. Actually sometimes, they overlap during the transition – barking dogs with chanting.

If I were in the U.S. and this was happening, I think I would be extremely irritated. For some reason, here in Ethiopia, I actually find it soothing (okay, maybe not the dark barking). But it is a part of the culture and one comes to adjust to it – and actually welcome it because it is part of the culture.

Everyone, every person, has a culture. Our culture consists of the ideas and customs we grow up with as well as our social behaviors. They are influenced by where we grow up, how we grow up, and the people around us.

When I think of my patience and understanding of barking dogs and chanting, I often wonder why I don’t exhibit this same patience in the states… specifically when it comes to people. When people are not like me, when they have different values or ways of doing things, I find myself frustrated. I lose patience and sometimes, I even shy away from them. Isn’t this the way we can be when people are different from us – their culture is different from our own? Instead of seeking to understand their story and where they are coming from or giving them the benefit of the doubt, we jump to conclusions and judge.

On this journey the Lord has called me to, I continue to learn - learn about and appreciate differences, finding patience and beauty in all God’s creation.