Don't Shelter Yourself: Experience the World As It Is

Moving from Hawaii to Utah when I was seven was a culture shock.  Dealing with non-mormons on a daily basis as a missionary was culture shock plus so much more.  Living outside of Mormon communities was something not familiar to me.  Although as missionaries we were still encased in our own little bubbles, we still had plenty of exposure to outside forces.  It was so hard to talk to people, my first area was in San Francisco and I didn't know people would be so closed off.  People would rush by avoiding eye contact, they didn't want to be sold our product.  As I pondered why these experiences were so hard I found that it was because I was not trying to understand the world that they lived in and did not see things through their eyes.

In order to be the most effective people we must have a diverse set of experiences in our lives.  If we have the opportunity to learn of other cultures and ways of life then we should be open to seeing life through their eyes.  This does not have to compromise our beliefs or standards but do it in a way which allows you to learn and understand.  Sometimes we have to take a step out of our comfort zone to truly appreciate the immense diversity within our world.  As we come out of our shelter we will not only understand the world of others but also be able to understand our own life and situations with greater depth.