Struggle is a special word for me. Struggle. It is a noun and a verb. The noun labels a condition in which a person or organization works hard - struggles - to understand something, become connected with a problem, other people, or anything that is different from their previous understanding. That condition is encountered throughout our lives.
The verb, struggle, is the action it takes to engage the work to understand the unknown.
Example: as a 76 year old white male, I struggle to understand the simplest matters concerning computers and technology. I deal with it. I am aware of how my mind is not organized to function like a computer (although we all know it is; that is the language of computers and technology, the logic of it all). I like to say I use computers as tools. My real function is to create 'content', messages, and gathered information to make sense of. I dump those efforts into a computer like I am doing this moment writing this blog.
Using the computer as tool is a struggle for me. I used to place paper onto the platen of a typewriter and bang away on the keyboard, producing words on the paper. Correcting those words was a bother of erasers, White-Out, and other messy means; often we penciled corrections onto the page and later re-typed the bloody thing.
Now of course we merely backspace on the computer screen, fix the word or typo, and move on. The miracle of computers has transformed communication, and I love it; appreciate it. So I do get the new technology, I just don't know how it works and don't want it to get in the way of my creating content.
OK, so now we have struggle as a condition of unknowing (and presumably wanting to know), and struggle as a set of actions that are used to find connectedness and meaning with the unknown.
Being a person familiar with operations of non-profit organizations, I am aware of the mission and passion of others who wish to serve and make a difference with people who need help. The helpers are different from the people receiving the help. The reality of the conditions for the helper and helpee are different. Bridging the gap is the work that delivers the help to the recipient. The conditions of the two parties are quite different. The person in need only knows of the need, not what would make a difference in that need. The helper must format the help accordingly to actually be of help. The manner of delivering the help matters as well.
This is what I mean as 'connectedness'. There must be a joining of the two parties if they are to be of purpose to one another.
Example: entering a group of people who speak a language different from yours, creates a barrier to knowing or understanding the group. The same for them understanding you. We learn to cope in such situations by way of smiles, handshakes, nodding of heads and facial expressions that communicate our not knowing but willingness to know. In bits and pieces we begin to acclimate to one another at least on a basic level.
Now, transport all of that to the world of churches. In our communities we have churches of several denominations, even Asian temples. I know of two mosques as well. We have African American churches, Hispanic, Chinese, and of course churches mainly of white cultures. They all deal with similar or the same message and content of their theology and religious rituals and creeds. The culture and language is different among these churches.
Bringing them together to accomplish common work, is a struggle. Getting to a place of comfort to work with them takes work; struggles. Letting them into our own personal space so they can be comfortable working with us also takes work; struggles. The effort produces magical results if we are successful.
Twenty years from now - 2040 - America will look and be different from what it is today. Our diversity will be more marked. White America will become a minority. It is inevitable. It is pure math combined with time. How will we struggle successfully to produce magical results?
There is no turning back. There is no way to remain separate but equal communities based on race, religion or ethnicity. It is a forward motion of becoming a culturally enriched community. And world.
Whether a church community or a town or city, we live with and through others, and they through and with us. It is a mutual sharing of existence and place. Best we roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Engage struggle. It is what enriches and liberates us. What a treat!
August 21, 2019
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