At 17:3o in Guangzhou, China the sun is going down and everyone is out. Kids are getting out of school, people getting on buses & on the subway to go home, and the grocery store is buzzing with activity. I’m glad that I’ve ventured out alone to pick up a few items for dinner because keeping track of my four in this grocery store would be crazy town. China has a 3 step process for some items: 1) get a slip filled out by the department worker for the item(s) you desire, 2) go pay the slip at the cash registers, 3) return to the department to claim your item(s) with your receipt. As you can imagine, it can be a bit much. But on this trip, without kids, I got to just take in the people. 

Mostly beautiful variations of Chinese faces in the market, as I walk the 4 blocks back to our apartment I pass faces in all different shapes and colors. We have chosen to stay in a high rise building that contains businesses, shops, apartments, and more. Maybe it is just this section of town, but we have quite the colorful elevator rides to the 24th floor. Some people ask where we are from. I thought it would be impossible to hide. “United States,” I say, but get no response. “America”, and that registers. Sometimes the elevator smells like marijuana, there is a lady with her dog, or someone pinches the little ones’ cheeks. People talk loudly on their cell phones in different languages. Some don’t talk at all. Most try to figure out why we have two little Chinese children with us. So far we have interacted (as best we can) with people from the Middle East, Mediteranean, and Africa in addition to Chinese. It’s like a cross-culture sociology experiment. I love it! 

Besides seeing this amazing world that God created in all its beauty, what I appreciate about traveling is that it stretches me. It reminds me that I see the world through tinted lenses. It grows me in flexibility & compassion. Things don’t often go exactly as planned, and that’s not that big of a deal at home where I have a lot more control (i.e. mastery of the language). But here, work-arounds are more of a challenge. There always seems to be a problem to solve. While tiring, that’s also fun. It forces me to be more creative.

I’m not naturally the most compassionate person. Maybe because I have spent too much of my life with people just like me- similar views, socioeconomic status, culture, etc. Getting to know people from all over the world helps give new perspective and appreciation for our similarities and differences. It is easier for me to put myself in their shoes. When I know them, I care about them more. 

In the elevator, and in the streets, everyone may not have the manners I’d like them to have. I know my children are not clothed enough for their preference level. But we are much more alike than we are different, made in God’s image. We choose how we see the differences – to fear & reject one another or learn about & appreciate what is unique.