I grew up all my life in a suburb of Portland, Oregon; a small city today of 80,000 Beaverton. The diversity doesn’t compare to some of the bigger cities such as LA, NYC, and the likes, but it was diverse enough that you can find various pockets of ethnic groups. I was raised in a Vietnamese community (church). Amongst the friends that I met through my church, we predominantly spoke English with one another, and I felt that when connecting with other Asian Americans, it wasn’t much of a difference culturally to connect with them as well. Because of the comfort that I gained through AA communities, it almost didn’t make sense to me when I see other AA who wouldn’t embrace the idea of being part of our community.
I remember my second and third year in college when EPIC wasn’t a strong presence in my life. I wanted to continue growing in my faith and at times I felt the Vietnamese church that I grew up in lacked in the area that I felt I needed to grow in my faith. There’s a church in Portland called Portland City Bible. It’s one of the bigger ones and they happened to have a satellite service on Wednesday at Portland State. I decided to go simply because I thought it would be a nice breather after lying around in the library all day (I was the one in the group of Asians who just happened to be there, seldom studying and often distracting others). I started learning a lot and I really enjoyed being able to take in the in-depth exploration of the gospel.
One day I came early to the service and while I waited for them to get started, a busted out my textbook like a good Asian boy and started studying. Than an individual who saw me kind of just sitting there by myself came up and introduced herself to me. I’m usually bad with names, but the only reason that I remembered Katrina’s name was because of the storm that hit New Orleans, and also the fact that she was probably the prettiest half Vietnamese girl that I have ever seen.
A few weeks later she invited me to join one if their Bible study, which I wasn’t hesitant to go at first because it was on the complete other side of town. But I would say I am guilty, I went to a Bible study for a girl. The saddest thing ever was that she never came! I thought to myself and came to the conclusion that I can’t be attending this Bible study for this amazingly beautiful girl, but I had to go with the heart of just wanting to know God. I continued commuting to this Bible study for a few weeks, and I just realized that I just really felt totally out of place. Not just because I was the only ethnic minority in the group, but mostly because I felt I didn’t culturally connect with them.
I eventually stopped going, and sad to say I never saw Katrina again after that invitation from her; but I realized one thing from that experience, and that was how much I valued a community that I could connect with that I would not just understand, but would also understand me.
5.14.2010
5.13.2010
Responsibilities
In part of bringing my small number of readers together, I'm going to share with you some thoughts that I have been juggling on my head and would love for you to respond off of each other.
If you ever have formed a task oriented group, you often find certain individuals taking certain roles; whether they are self prompted or urged by others. It is often one or two individual takes command and charge, assuming that the some members of the group is remotely productive and the rest some how falls in line.
That leader, whether they are formally recognized as the leader or not by the group, is placed in a position to take responsibility for the success and failure of the task on hand. The leader is often sought to assist in duties belonging to others. The perception of success in completing the task at the end of the day, in reality comes down to does that leader take on his or her share of responsibility and filling in the holes left from others.
I guess to be more thorough, I'm talking about situations where leaders step up to fill in a void versus being appointed to fill in the void. To be more clear, the difference between the two is one who unintentionally finds his/her way to becoming the leader versus and the other who intentionally desires.
If you are still reading this, you probably would have guessed that this some how relates back to me. What my thoughts concerning this subject really come down to is the responsibility and expectation that is placed on a leader. Is it fair to put certain responsibilities on certain individuals over others, simply because one happens to be the one to initiate and be the vocal one in the group? Is that why people try shy away and keep quiet in groups in fear of the consequences of stepping up?
I am finding it hard to say no to responsibilities. I do realize that as an intern with the ministry in one way or another I am leading and have accepted certain responsibilities. However, does that necessarily equate into myself being responsible for other people's thoughts, response, or lack of one?
Share your thoughts! What are your thoughts and perception as a leader? Socially what are the certain expectations placed on them and is it fair to do so? What is your expectation as a leader?
If you ever have formed a task oriented group, you often find certain individuals taking certain roles; whether they are self prompted or urged by others. It is often one or two individual takes command and charge, assuming that the some members of the group is remotely productive and the rest some how falls in line.
That leader, whether they are formally recognized as the leader or not by the group, is placed in a position to take responsibility for the success and failure of the task on hand. The leader is often sought to assist in duties belonging to others. The perception of success in completing the task at the end of the day, in reality comes down to does that leader take on his or her share of responsibility and filling in the holes left from others.
I guess to be more thorough, I'm talking about situations where leaders step up to fill in a void versus being appointed to fill in the void. To be more clear, the difference between the two is one who unintentionally finds his/her way to becoming the leader versus and the other who intentionally desires.
If you are still reading this, you probably would have guessed that this some how relates back to me. What my thoughts concerning this subject really come down to is the responsibility and expectation that is placed on a leader. Is it fair to put certain responsibilities on certain individuals over others, simply because one happens to be the one to initiate and be the vocal one in the group? Is that why people try shy away and keep quiet in groups in fear of the consequences of stepping up?
I am finding it hard to say no to responsibilities. I do realize that as an intern with the ministry in one way or another I am leading and have accepted certain responsibilities. However, does that necessarily equate into myself being responsible for other people's thoughts, response, or lack of one?
Share your thoughts! What are your thoughts and perception as a leader? Socially what are the certain expectations placed on them and is it fair to do so? What is your expectation as a leader?
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