Collar ID

There was an interesting phenomenon that happened while were out in Bulwer, one that I can only describe as Collar ID. As I mentioned the three of us ministers had to wear shirt and collar in order to be recognized in the Zulu community, and recognized we were. In fact we were treated like royalty. Everywhere we went while we were in our collars we were given the seat of honor, served food, and sometimes even given a gift of money. Even Mrs. Violet Mosiea, the lady who offered her house for Jamison and me to stay at, treated us like kings. We had three course meals for breakfast and supper, and even when we offered to help in the kitchen or cleaning dishes, she refused to let us help. It was very hard at first to accept this hospitality, not to mention that we got fed so much that at times we avoided the house so we wouldn't have to eat. After all, we didn't do anything that warranted this generosity.

After a while I learned to accept the generosity as an honor, not one that I deserved, but one that I was fortunate to take part of. It also added to the situation that we were white, and foreigners. At every event we were the only white people, and at most events we were the only white people who had ever attended. Their generosity then became a sign of both recognizing that we are ministers, and thanking us for taking the time to even be there, since so many white South Africans do not take time to associate with them. The only thing that we could do is accept the hospitality as our way of saying thank you for letting us be a part of your community.

Now before you start judging the white South Africans for their lack of participation in these worship groups, think about how few white Americans go and worship in African America or Hispanic, or Asian communities. The experience has really made not judge the sawdust in the eyes of the white South Africans, but rather realized the log in my own eye. How can we call ourselves a community of believers if we don't worship together? I know that the American context is different, and that there are many factors to go into the division, but it at least makes you think that if we are all children of God, then why are we not worshiping together in our father's house? God Bless