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Global Urban Trek 2008
Learning to Say, "Oo"June 24, 2008
This morning I experienced something that I thought might happen, though I did not want it to.
The kubeta (restroom) at the guesthouse at which we are residing (before we head off to our sites) has two sinks and two toilets, but the toilets happen to be without doors. Although an uncomforting structure, it implied (at least to me) that there could be two or more persons inside the kubeta at once - awkward but true.
So as I was taking care of some personal matters in the kubeta, a member of the team, Mark stepped in and for a brief moment it seemed to have lasted forever as we stared at each other. We both froze for a second but he quickly said, "I am sorry." Just as quickly, I responded, "It's alright".
"It's alright" is a frequent phrase that I use, but today it helped me understand something far beyond my everyday. The experience made me aware that I need to be open to having my most private of places disrupted this summer as I reside with a host family, even in the kubeta. Like most of us, I would least expect or desire for my privacy to be disrupted in the kubeta, but I need to keep in mind that I will be entering a culture that is very familial and communal oriented.
Though the disruption of my privacy with my host family and other people might not be physical, I must be aware that my space will no longer be only mine. As such, I will need to be able to say "it's alright" not only to the people but most importantly to God.
Part of the growing experience of being in Manila is to allow God to burst my bubble, no matter how embarrasing, humiliating, painful, or frustrating that may be for me. Though my bubble will definitely burst, I need to constantly remember that God is in control of the situation, that he knows why it happened and why it will happen.
I need to have openness to the culture, its people and, most importantly, to God and the ways he will work and transform my summer. I will say to God, "Oo" (in Tagalog): "Yes…it's alright."
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