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Pastor’s Notes I had quite a bit of a different attitude toward foreign tourists in our National Parks this year. In the past I have complained (especially) about bus loads of Japanese tour groups clogging up the parking lots in Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. As big as these places are the view always seems spoiled when you are sharing them with multitudes (as if they were my own special possession!) In a similar manner, there are some travel companies in Europe that sell RV rental packages to Dutch, German and French tourists. You can usually tell when a brand new RV driver from the Continent is trying to park a vehicle the size of his apartment back in Paris! They, likewise, seem to fill the parking lots at odd angles. This year, not for any altruistic reason, but more because of the state of our economy, I was much more welcoming. “Come spend your Euro Dollars, please” was my thought. Isn’t funny how our attitudes can change? Visitation is significantly “down” to our National Parks. The effect of the same economy seems to be keeping people at or near home: the so-called “stay-cation” has replaced the family vacation for many. This is a shame. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a conversation in the funeral parlor where the bereaved adult children smile as they remember their “family vacations” together. Because weeks, months and years have a habit of blending into each other I think it is a high priority to “get away” and do memorable things. I was asked by a French tourist, “Who won the World Cup?” I laughed as I told him that I didn’t know. There really are substantive differences in our cultures easily symbolized by our sports interests. I had to explain that Americans aren’t that into world football. Another difference that caused me to laugh was in a brew pub in Moab, Utah. (Yes, brew pubs in Utah!) A French couple, trying hard to engage in the American experience had ordered a slab of ribs. The French never eat with their hands. Looking around at other customers eating ribs encouraged them to try—but you could see awkwardness at the idea of being slathered in American barbecue sauce. The typical European reaction to America is quite positive. One day we bumped into an English tour group in Glen Canyon Dam. The openness and friendliness of their American hosts impressed them as much as the huge open spaces. On another day, I had a conversation with a group of Dutch teenagers waiting for a shuttle bus. Just for fun, I rattled off every Dutch name I knew and then asked them where I lived—they asked if I lived in the Netherlands and I said no, but I live near Zeeland. The poor kids are still trying to figure it out. Later that night they were playing soccer in the campground with a bunch of German and French kids. They all spoke English to each other as they played. People who study the theology of mission have a name for what I was experiencing. It’s called the “centripetal” model of evangelism. In simpler terms, the world is coming to us now. Rather than be irritated by this (my parking lots full of bad RV drivers) we can see this as an opportunity. We have the opportunity to share our faith and our Lord with new generations from new lands. If you consider that many are coming from places where it is against the law to convert to Christianity then the opportunity is magnified many times. The only difficulty that we face is being open to new music, food, spices, accents and people. It doesn’ t sound too hard to me. Maybe I will start an RV driving school! In Christ, Pastor |