Is This Your Country?
"Is this your country?" a stranger asked me in amazement in broken English as I sat in a small food stall in Tokyo earlier this spring. I was scrolling through photos on my phone while waiting for chicken skewers to cook over a smokey charcoal grill. I was looking at some pictures of Edmonton's river valley, fields on the Alberta highways, and some scenes from the Maligne Canyon in Jasper. The photos highlighted how vast and beautiful Canada is. I know what she meant when she asked the question. She wanted to know if this was the country where I came from. She wasn't asking if Canada was something I possessed or owned. I smiled and said, "This is where I live." This land called Canada doesn't belong to me. I'm learning to share it with others because there's enough of Canada to go around.
Scarcity is a belief that has been granted a generous amount of control in our everyday lives today. The idea that there is not enough for everyone impacts almost every aspect of our lives from the moment we wake up until our exhausted minds finally allow us to sleep at night. It makes sense that in a world of limited resources, it's natural for us to want to fight tooth and nail so that we can end up on top. When we're not thriving, it's easy for us to look for someone to blame, and we rally others to join us, and then we end up locked in a never-ending cycle of conflict. This profound lack of faith in a hopeful story for ourselves leads us to believe we must do everything possible to compete and conquer to thrive. This feeling of not having enough can even fuel our anger when we hear or see something we disagree with in the news. “They can’t do that, this is MY country!”
“Scarcity promotes tunnel vision making us less insightful, less open, less safe, less free.”- Sendhil Mullainathan*
I don’t have an easy solution for the problem, but I believe there is at least a clear answer. We need to learn to share. Our country has a bright future if our culture is defined by how we serve others. I intentionally highlight culture over policy because we spent a lot of time debating how partisan politics impact the country's direction. Culture is the root of our success in Canada. How we treat each other in everyday life and conversation will inevitably guide our legislatures and the House of Commons. We must get this right.
Scarcity is the kindling that ignites fear-driven conflicts. Hospitality is the kindling of camaraderie and trust. The latter will help us resolve our greatest challenges, such as Truth and Reconciliation, the economy, and the environment. Hospitality is a step of faith in the direction of trusting that there’s enough for everyone.
The best thing you or I can do in Canada is reflect on what we have on hand that we can offer our communities and give. That could look like donating time and money. It can also look like committing to being kind. Listening is key; be concerned about your ability to hear the stories of your neighbors. It’s easier to be hospitable when you understand the stories, backgrounds, and perspectives of others. I have been working on eliminating "My country" from my vocabulary because I'm trying my best to remind myself that it's a privilege to live here. I want to live in a way that makes Canada a wonderful place for everyone who lives here.
One last thing: I believe that most Canadians share this hope- but we all must grow a service culture together. A culture of sharing requires constant practice, discipline, and humility. The ultimate community project! Let’s enjoy living here together.
We got this!
Thanks for reading friend! Happy Canada Day!
* Found this quote from “Love Over Fear: Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World” by Dan White Jr. Zondervan 2019 Kindle version