What Happens When our Cultural Values are Different?

Yesterday I wrote a status on Facebook and then I took it down a few minutes later because I realized it sounded like the people I get annoyed by on Facebook.  It sounded like a plea for attention.  Since I didn't feel like elaborating to show that it wasn't, I took it down.  Perhaps a blog post is a better medium to communicate deeper thoughts than a quick status. 

Being isolated has given me plenty of time to ponder why I feel isolated.  That's a process that has not been particularly enjoyable.  Any time you have to peer into yourself for analysis through the lens of scripture, it's not fun.  You end up hearing God say "see this over here, that's pride." "this thing over here, that's selfishness".  The answers I've found so far are pretty complicated and I certainly won't cover it all here.

I'm tired of the status quo.  With the way that our culture works.  Everyone's priorities are so wack.  I went to a seminar at the missions conference about the different things that people value in different cultures.  I realized that this is why I get frustrated and discouraged.  The things that this culture values do not line up with the things I value.  I value lifelong friendships, but this culture has no sense of commitment.  We're so ADD  when it comes to building friendships.  We just get distracted and jump to the next thing in life.  Our life goals, professions, desires, whatever, are more important than friends, and so when the time comes we leave them behind.  And so I've lived this cycle my whole adult life of fully investing in a friendship just to have them move on to higher priorities.  I don't blame you for that, it's the way we were raised, it's our culture.  But every time it gets harder to invest in the next friendship.  

I write all this so that you, brothers and sisters in Christ, can understand me a little better.  When I admit to being lonely, it is not a plea for attention, but nearly the opposite.  It's an admission that I'm scared to cultivate new deep friendships because I fear they won't last.  And that is an issue of selfishness that my prideful self has a difficult time admitting. 

A few of my friendships, though separated geographically now, are still very precious to me and to the other person.  Overcoming the obstacles of physical distance is worth the fight.  I'm glad you guys think so too. You know who you are.  It hurts my heart not having you nearby.