Summer is here…

There is something that is beautiful about the way that people in our neighborhood respond to the weather.  The demean of our community for the most part is a direct reflection of the patterns of the weather.  If the skies are cold and gloomy chances are those emotions will be reflected in the attitude of the demonic presence on our block.  On the other hand when it is sunny and beautiful so is our community.  Now I realize that this is a rash generalization but for the purpose of conversation we are going to use the idea that the weather directly affects the atmosphere of people lives.

There is just something I love about living in a cross-cultural context.  The smells, the smiles…the frowns, the colors, the languages, but most of all the fact that people are outside and involved in each others lives.  Unabated true community.  The sunshine truly reflects light into the lives of our community.  There may be no deep investment in one another but there is interaction.  Interaction is breathtakingly refreshing.  It is so true that people desire to be a part of something that is bigger than themselves and living cross-culturally I get to see first hand this played out on a fundamental level.  Each day I witness the (most of the time unwillingly and unknowing) attempt at assimilation and inclusion.  This practice of being included brings folks who don’t look alike, speak the same, or even believe in the same things to one anothers front porches, back yards, and shade trees.

I feel so blessed to live in an area that is not dominated by one race, ethnicity, or religion but in a place that truly transcends culture.  Now if I could just transplant this community into a place with no winter…