American Independence

It is a humbling experience moving to a new place and having to start from scratch; being ignorant in many ways to the culture around me, not knowing where to look for basic services, where to eat, how things are done, etc etc... Now Andrey and I find ourselves dependent on those who have been here longer than us. It's funny how quickly we forgot what that was like as soon as Thailand became familiar to us and we were the ones being asked for advice or information. I realize that to feel familiar with and to be knowledgeable of our surroundings, that is to the extent to which we are self-sufficient, is a much more comfortable scenario. It got me thinking about how I feel more comfortable being the one to give, to do and to serve rather than the one to receive and be served. Why is that? I think a main reason for it is the culture I grew up in. To be American is to be independent; to be self-sufficient. When we can take care of ourselves we often times have the ability to take care of others as well, and we experience joy in the giving and serving. We like to feel needed and to be the one who is strong enough to do the giving or the teaching. I think this stems from our need to be in control.
For some time I've been aware of the idea of self-sufficiency and our love of it in America, at least how it relates to the secular world but then I wondered how it has affected the church and our life together as the body of Christ. How does self-sufficiency hold up in the reality of us being the body of Christ - where if one part suffers the rest of the body suffers with it? Where the foot can not say to the toe, "I don't need you"? It doesn't. I believe especially as Christians who identify with a Western culture and mindset, we need to actively combat our independent tendencies with the humbling interdependence that is necessary for vibrant life in the body of Christ - which ultimately should stem from an utter and complete and oftentimes desperate dependence on the only source of anything good, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's remind ourselves that the all-powerful God of the universe - the only one who could ever validly take credit for his strength, abilities and knowledge - purposefully made himself into a lowly, unhandsome human outcast who was seen by many as weak and needy and then told us to follow his lead in our relationships with one another. Ouch. That hurts.
It's uncomfortable to be needy. Most times, I hate having to ask for help. It is very uncomfortable and my pride certainly doesn't like it but I am realizing that to be a part of the body of Christ I must lose the controlling self-dependency, get acquainted with feeling weak, and allow myself to lean on others. This is honoring to God. And its a necessary reminder that we can do nothing without Christ; that we are to put absolutely no confidence in the flesh; and that our competance comes from Him and Him alone.