05.25.09
Being the Outsider
A couple nights ago the class representative for our oldest’s class organized an end-of-the-year dinner. It was your typical Italian feast with all of the courses (appetizer, two pastas, grilled meats, salad, dessert, and coffee). As we were all sitting down, someone had the idea to separate the guys and the girls. We took up the entire outside area of the restaurant. The kids were on one side. Dads in the middle. Moms on the other side.
As we’re sitting there chatting I just sort of sat there for a bit and listened to the other dads talk. The mayor of Ancona recently resigned (in scandal, of course) and they were talking about the nine candidates who were running. And of those nine, many were people they had all gone to school with. They started telling stories about so-and-so who used to ride on the hood of cars going down country roads. Or the other guy who they all said was destined to be in politics (not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult).
All of the sudden it hit me. Most of these guys have known each other since they were kids. They went to elementary school together. They’ve watched each other grow up and get married and have kids. And here I am, the American protestant pastor trying to insert myself into a community that has been around for forty years! There are a couple of dads in particular who try and pull me into the circle, but for the most part I’m an outsider.
I don’t say this to start a pity party. But it does bring a little prespective. How many class dinners do I go to before I can tell stories about so-and-so? Am I going to stick around long enough to get drawn in?
jessica said,
05.29.09 at 9:34 am
Our children’s minister will be the dean of one of the camps at RRCC this summer. She said someone is registered from Ancona, Italy, isn’t that where Chelsea (my daughter) went? I said yes. It was about four years ago with a CIY mission trip. Small world. She is usually a counselor for Evelyn during the summers but this year she is doing her internship with Team Expansion in Spain. How long have you been in Ancona? Hope things are going well. God Bless
Countries less mentioned - Part 2 — Missionary Blog Watch said,
06.10.09 at 12:02 pm
[...] Italy: "A couple nights ago the class representative for our oldest’s class organized an end-of-the-year dinner. It was your typical Italian feast with all of the courses (appetizer, two pastas, grilled meats, salad, dessert, and coffee)…" Read Being the Outsider [...]
Amrita said,
06.20.09 at 10:32 am
Hello Brown family I got to you from Missionaryblogs.com
Like reading about your ministry.
Sister Amrita from India