The Lost Art of Adaptation
While I was on vacation last month I was sitting on the beach just out of the reach of the waves behind the seashell line I noticed something. What I call the seashell line is that line of broken seashells that appears just past where the waves come in. I noticed that it was constantly changing. Big waves would take some of the shells away. Small waves dropped new ones in. People were digging into the seashell line hoping to find a beautiful shell, a hard to find shark's tooth or some other treasure. What I noticed was the adaptability of the beaches and shells.
Let me explain. When I looked at the seashell line everything looked to be in harmony. Then a wave would come in and drop a new shell in the seashell line. For a few moments it looked out of place, like it didn't belong. But then something happened. I would look away for a second, then look back and things had changed. The new shell not only looked like it belonged but it was hard to find which shell was the new one. Both the beach and the new shell had adapted to make that happen. So now your asking, "How?" Here's how.
Once the shell arrived in the shell line the beach welcomed it. It didn't force the new shell to become like all the other shells. The beach made room for the new shell and allowed it to become part of the over all shell community. The shell joined the community of shells. It didn't ask the beach to make every shell become like it. The shell kept its individual shape, color, and design. It was still who it was but it was now apart of the community. The beach was able to adapt to allow the shell to keep its identity. The shell kept its identity and was willing to be a part of its new community.
The United States used to be like the beach and the seashells. That is how the United States
became known as the Melting Pot. People from came from all over to live in America. The community adapted by welcoming these new people and allowing them to be who they were with out expecting them to change to be like the community. It embraced what the new cultures brought to the community. For example, when Chang Li moved to America and into a community the community didn't tell him to change his name to John Smith or make him wear blue jeans and cowboy hats. They allowed Chang to keep his name and wear his bamboo coolie hat. They even embraced the things Chang brought from his homeland, China. After all, who do you think brought the all American fireworks to America?
Now Chang adapted too. Chang learned the language and found ways to fit into the community while still keeping his culture. Chang didn't expect everyone to become like him but he openly shared his cultural with all who were interested. He didn't expect the community to change so he didn't have to change. He found out his family really liked decorating Christmas Tress, which came from the Germans down the street. His family loved apple pies too. Those came over with the English settlers. See how the Melting Pot works? Everyone is adapting to become one strong community of different people.
We are not melting much anymore. People are still coming to America from all over the world but the melting is not happening. We are like a pot of water with different oils in it. Why? What keeps us from melting? We have lost our ability or our willingness to adapt. Not all, but many of those who have come over the past years have chose not to become a part of the community and wanted the community to change for them. They left their country to live here in America but they still want to live in the community they left. So they want the community to learn their language, allow them to follow the laws of their country and to live just like they did there. The community isn't being as welcoming as it once was either. The community doesn't send the welcome wagon over anymore. Instead, it circles the wagons and goes on the defense not allowing even those who want to join the community in. The community expects the new neighbors to drop all their culture and become just like the existing community overnight. Instead of being a strong community of people with differences we have become a divided community of different people. Of course, both sides blame the other when the truth is the guilt lies on both.
How can we once again become a true Melting Pot? It has to start somewhere. There has to be a place where different people with different backgrounds can find a common interest and melt into one body. Where can we find a place like that? Sadly, it can't be a restaurant that serves bacon because not all cultures eat bacon. So where can the melting begin? How about the place where it should happen the most often, church. Yes, I know not all cultures worship God but there are people from all cultures that do worship Him. That is where the melting should start. Jesus came that both the Jew and Gentile could be saved. Then the church came along and said that is true but we can't worship together. Why not?
Why can't the hand raisers worship with the gentle head nodders? Why can't those who enjoy the old hymns worship with those who like modern praise music? Why can't the "got to dress up" worship with the "what's wrong with my shorts"? Why can't the piano and organ lovers worship with
the drums and electric guitar lovers? Why can't the "I like video clips" worship with the "Preach it loud" worshipers? Why does every member of a church congregation have to look the same and act the same? Where is the rule that only this race can worship in this church? True worship doesn't come from the style of worship but from WHO you worship. Why can't the church embrace who ever comes through their doors to worship? Why can't Christians become a part of the church instead of trying to change the church to fit them? It is because Christians and the church has lost their ability or willingness to adapt. The congregation has made church about them instead of about God. It is time Christians reminded themselves why they go to church, to worship God not themselves. Let the melting begin. Let's start worshiping God with whoever comes to worship with us. Let's embrace their style, their looks and who they are. Let's all become a part of the church. Let's just worship God.
Parting Thought: Every church congregation is made up of 100% sinners, 50% will admit that they are and 50% will admit that the other 50% are.
Let me explain. When I looked at the seashell line everything looked to be in harmony. Then a wave would come in and drop a new shell in the seashell line. For a few moments it looked out of place, like it didn't belong. But then something happened. I would look away for a second, then look back and things had changed. The new shell not only looked like it belonged but it was hard to find which shell was the new one. Both the beach and the new shell had adapted to make that happen. So now your asking, "How?" Here's how.
Once the shell arrived in the shell line the beach welcomed it. It didn't force the new shell to become like all the other shells. The beach made room for the new shell and allowed it to become part of the over all shell community. The shell joined the community of shells. It didn't ask the beach to make every shell become like it. The shell kept its individual shape, color, and design. It was still who it was but it was now apart of the community. The beach was able to adapt to allow the shell to keep its identity. The shell kept its identity and was willing to be a part of its new community.
The United States used to be like the beach and the seashells. That is how the United States
Now Chang adapted too. Chang learned the language and found ways to fit into the community while still keeping his culture. Chang didn't expect everyone to become like him but he openly shared his cultural with all who were interested. He didn't expect the community to change so he didn't have to change. He found out his family really liked decorating Christmas Tress, which came from the Germans down the street. His family loved apple pies too. Those came over with the English settlers. See how the Melting Pot works? Everyone is adapting to become one strong community of different people.
We are not melting much anymore. People are still coming to America from all over the world but the melting is not happening. We are like a pot of water with different oils in it. Why? What keeps us from melting? We have lost our ability or our willingness to adapt. Not all, but many of those who have come over the past years have chose not to become a part of the community and wanted the community to change for them. They left their country to live here in America but they still want to live in the community they left. So they want the community to learn their language, allow them to follow the laws of their country and to live just like they did there. The community isn't being as welcoming as it once was either. The community doesn't send the welcome wagon over anymore. Instead, it circles the wagons and goes on the defense not allowing even those who want to join the community in. The community expects the new neighbors to drop all their culture and become just like the existing community overnight. Instead of being a strong community of people with differences we have become a divided community of different people. Of course, both sides blame the other when the truth is the guilt lies on both.
How can we once again become a true Melting Pot? It has to start somewhere. There has to be a place where different people with different backgrounds can find a common interest and melt into one body. Where can we find a place like that? Sadly, it can't be a restaurant that serves bacon because not all cultures eat bacon. So where can the melting begin? How about the place where it should happen the most often, church. Yes, I know not all cultures worship God but there are people from all cultures that do worship Him. That is where the melting should start. Jesus came that both the Jew and Gentile could be saved. Then the church came along and said that is true but we can't worship together. Why not?
Why can't the hand raisers worship with the gentle head nodders? Why can't those who enjoy the old hymns worship with those who like modern praise music? Why can't the "got to dress up" worship with the "what's wrong with my shorts"? Why can't the piano and organ lovers worship with
Parting Thought: Every church congregation is made up of 100% sinners, 50% will admit that they are and 50% will admit that the other 50% are.
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