Living Behind the Veil

I'm often asked what I wear in Afghanistan and what it's like to wear a veil. It's freedom. Freedom to have a bad hair day, freedom to arrange my chadar to conceal the curve of my breasts and backside, freedom to not be an expatriate for a little while. It means freedom to hide even on the street from the Afghan men's eyes which seem to strip me naked.
When I relax my shoulders and walk less purposefully, less confidently, my eyes downcast and covered by sunglasses, I pass for an Afghan woman. I hear the men whisper in Dari, "Is she a foreigner or local woman?" I chuckle but am silent. On the street, I'm also a free target....freely exposed to groping, sexual innuendos whispered to me as a man bicycles by, free to have stones thrown at me, freely seen as no one's wife, daughter, sister, mother, friend, or boss. I step inside my gate, and remove my chapan and chadar. Now I'm someone's boss, motherhood returns to me as little steps run to greet me, and I receive a kiss from my adoring husband. Now I'm free to his loving and gentle eyes which know and enjoy my curves, free to once again be under the protective umbrella of being a wife, mother, friend, colleague, boss, niece, sister, daughter, woman.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Risk as Worship



How can cross-cultural risk be considered a form of worship? 

By attuning our ear to hear God’s voice speaking to us to move into or out of risk situations, by attuning our eyes to see His activity in the events surrounding our risk situation, and by increasing and sensitive awareness of His leading in our hearts, we demonstrate worship of Him. 

Worship – what or whom we place as of primary importance; we worship what or whom we love.

When is risk not worship?

When our whole focus and thought is on security – increasing security and minimizing risk.
When our primary focus is on risk itself, elevating its importance by our willingness to tolerate a lot…or a little risk.

Both security and risk are polar opposites, both are seductive in their own way.  Security is elusive. Risk leads to false pride…or death. Either way, when we stiffen our neck, dig in our heals, and attach our hearts and minds to either security or risk as a core value, we’ve become idolatrous. (Ps 115:4-8)

When is risk worshipful?

Worshiping God with our hearts, minds, and strength (Deut 6:5) means that we are prayerful and discerning when we continue on the path towards impending danger. It means we do not elevate “staying with the locals” or “being willing to be blown up” as the reason we stay. It means we have listened again to hear God’s voice that this is what He wants for us, and we listen to Him over and over again in each risk situation.

Moving away from risk as an act of worship is perhaps even harder. We may feel judged and compared to others as if we are not courageous enough. In this case, we elevate what man thinks, instead of God’s voice speaking. “Hear O Israel” is God’s voice to the nation (Deut 6:4).  The Lord is One, One Lord over all. We serve the same Lord whether He calls us into risk or away from risk.

Risk is worshipful when all of our relationships are moving towards greater love towards each other, greater faith in God and hope in Him. Risk is worshipful when the unity of His Spirit is preserved. Risk is worshipful when God is most glorified by our actions, pointing others to Him in our weakness. 

Risk can be worship even when we are afraid, for we know that courage is doing righteous action even when we feel fear. When we obey God’s calling into risk, and do not let fear paralyze us, and we cultivate joy in risk, we worship Him.

Let’s exhort each other to listen closely to God’s quiet still voice in all the ways He speaks in risk, let us "see His voice" (Rev 1:12), so that we can truly worship Him in all that we do in risk.