Do We See People?

Against all odds, the Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina sometimes tries to correct the traditional image of Africa in the media. In one of his most well-known essays, How to write about Africa, he lays waste all the clichés that exist regarding Africa.



Do we see an African and a white woman? Or a man and woman in love?

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I recently heard a few brothers voicing their dissatisfaction about the foreign workers in Singapore. It made me feel a bit sad.

Do we see nationalities, occupations, social classes, educational degrees... or do we see people?

Ever since studying the book of Philemon last year, I realised in Christ there is supposed to be no difference in how we treat one another, whether we are slaves or scholars. Because Christ has made us brothers.

So I am now learning to see my maid, Lena, not as a maid anymore, but as a godly woman who loves God, a fellow sister in Christ.

In fact, even though she already has three children, she adopted a girl, because her mother was a prostitute and had to give her girl away. So Lena adopted her, despite the fact that she is not so well-off.

Whoa. Here is a noble woman of God. I have so much to learn from her.

I wonder, what are the thoughts in our hearts when we talk with the less-educated people in our own church? Do we sometimes think they have nothing much to teach us, while we university graduates can teach them something - being the future leaders of Singapore and all that? Because I've thought that way before, to be honest. :P

I think how I think about others says much more about what I am than who they are. :)

Added: Huaqiang wrote a great entry about the same kind of thing.