![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/bb399fcda10be4f6c223b1bce7ba070f-207x300.jpg\")
Clark & Mr. Bayard.) I am not certain how the rest of you managed to skim Wild Swans as this narrative is meant to be read cover to cover as each successive chapter depends on recognition of the events described previously.<\/p>\nOne advantage of being off the grid in Kenya for 3 weeks is that there is time to read thoroughly. None of this talking about books that have not been read nonsense. (My apologies to both Jason Clark & Mr. Bayard.) I am not certain how the rest of you managed to skim Wild Swans as this narrative is meant to be read cover to cover as each successive chapter depends on recognition of the events described previously.<\/p>\n
The text does provide significant insight into the Chinese culture, especially the impact of the tyranny of Chairman Mao which continues to reverberate. It highlights both the oppression of women in the culture as well as the utter chaos and psychological trauma inflicted on the entire population.<\/p>\n
For me the most telling and powerful image that developed in the book was the slow realization by Jung Chang that the cult of Mao was not what she had been brainwashed to believe from childhood. It was absolutely stunning from the perspective of an outsider how slow she was to comprehend what was happening and then to realize that she was one of the more enlightened citizens.<\/p>\n
I have done minimal travel in Asia, having only really visited Manila and Singapore for any length of time. My interactions with Chinese people has mainly occurred with exchange students and sadly I never made the effort to discuss such matters with them.<\/p>\n
The book provided tremendous insight into the challenges that our friend in the cohort and others working in the Chinese context face in sharing the Gospel. The inherent lack of freedom of individual thought, the continued fear of governmental oppression, ongoing suspicion of relationships and motives for such all would make communicating the Gospel very difficult.<\/p>\n
For those of us who work outside of the Chinese context there may be lessons that could be applied. How alert are we to the impact that outside forces play (such as government) in people understanding the Gospel? What about cultural realities? When interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds how much of that do we take into account? Even if they are found in our own national context, how much of their psyche is caught up in their cultural perspective and are we willing to work to bridge that gap?<\/p>\n
With little real understanding of my own about the Chinese context I anticipate the 2018 Advance in that region and expect gain further insight into appropriate ways to engage individuals and groups either in or coming from that part of the world. I also expect it will open my eyes to an even broader understanding of God and the diversity found throughout humanity. If we believe that God is the creator of all cultures than we can anticipate that we will gain greater understanding of who God is by coming to know the Godly aspects of the culture of others. Maybe that is the real message behind this book.<\/p>\n
PS. It’s good to be back!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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