Open Doorways

The open doorway to a Somali friend's apartment building in Eastleigh.

Entering a new culture is an amazing experience. It is said that crossing culture happens in phases: You move from a distant observer, to a inquiring learner, and hopefully a participant. We are no experts, but what we have come to understand is the importance of "open doors".






It is tempting to want people of other backgrounds to meet us on our terms. Come to my house, eat my food, and talk about my interests in my language. It is easy and safe to build friendship on what we know and understand.


The challenge for all of us is to step out beyond what is easy. Do you have any friends of another culture? Do you look for open doorways into the lives of people unlike yourself? Looking back on our own lives, we have had very few friends who weren't a lot like us. And sadly, I do not think that it ever really bothered me. I was very content.


When I look at Jesus, I am increasingly amazed by the diversity of his friends. I am challenged by how attentive he was to open doorways into the lives of others unlike him. Open door can be scary things. We may not know what lies beyond them, but then again that's the adventure!