My Culture...

So here is the BIG question... WHO AM I? What defines me? Does my culture define me or do I define my culture? Am I a result of my faith or is my faith as a result of me?



It's totally complex while paradoxically simplistic! I am a person who is partially devoid of culture and yet completely transformed by a new growing culture.



I am a dying breed - a South African...

Yet when I came to Asia, many Asians expressed great surprise at me being an AFRICAN. "How come you are African?" they say. "Why are you not black?" - I even get asked this in my own country "How African are you?" (How black are you?)



I was born and bred on thick blood red South African soil - the kind that sticks between your toes - when you; as a child; are illegally fishing in your neighbours' goldfish pond. The kind of soil that labels you as 'the suspect' when being interrogated by a prejudiced society or neighbour. My label tattooed to me eternally; in every country, culture or society is: WHITE. I am a white South African. Until 1994 white South Africans were allowed to show their culture but a change in government (freedom for all as long as you are not a white); has forced an entire generation of South Africans to give up their culture.



Culture less?



I do not have a culture anymore - well at least not a white South African one! And soon I can say I'm Australian (we're immigrating); people won't ask why I am not black anymore - WHEW! Relief! No questions about colour means that I can go back to being colourless - a non-event- no longer responsible for black oppression and the destruction of my beloved AFRICA. But to gain this gift of "freedom" from culture - I have to leave my Motherland; the colourful world of my African culture.

How does one pry the thick blood red clay of Africa from one's feet?

Harder still is the wrenching of Africa's vibrant tribal vines from my heart

but the hardest ... is the extraction of my prejudicial weeds that constrict my mind

and creep into my psyche - destroying the glimmer of hope for fair "ubuntu'' in Africa.

Transformation...

So I am growing a new culture: my ETERNAL culture.

God knew that the culture into which we are born or chose to accept / acknowledge is not eternal. Culture does not last forever; neither should it define who we are... I'd be nothing then - invisible - colourless. Not even crusty blood red soil would stick to me. So somewhere deep with in my heart... actually beyond that cliche'... deep within my soul, He planted a minuscule seed of faith. He labelled it "Eternity" or rather "SEMPITERNAL" - hiding it for me to discover. I did discover it - it pierced through the darkness of culture - transcended the blackness in my cultural heart and drew attention to my neglected soul. Thus began my journey to eternity, I accepted Christ into my life at the age of four and my geriatric "long walk to freedom" commenced. I became transformed by allowing God to renew my mind - becoming and discovering that my form is Christ-like; only if my arms are stretched out to the world around me. I AM HIS IMAGE. I have a new culture - a godly culture. I am changed by the GRACE of God ALONE.

Maybe this video clip link will explain WHO I AM.

EVERYDAY.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR7726x4LD4

IN CHRIST

Mrs.Mc.

An AFRICAN GLOBE TROTTER.