How do You Show Reverence?

I while back I think I posted about the difference between how we northerners tend to see morals (prohibitions) and how Mexicans tend to see morals (positive actions.)  (I can’t find the post now – maybe it’s just something I told someone.  If I find it, I’ll share the link.)

 

A closely related idea is how we see reverence. I recently saw a review of a movie (“The Greatest Miracle”) which attempts to depict the spiritual events which take place in the Mass.  The writer took issue with the fact that in the movie, the characters were getting up and moving around the church during mass, even approaching the sanctuary.  The movie takes place in Mexico, and I realized that this issue was actually connected to the fact in Mexico, people have a different concept of reverence.  The following are some comments I made about the review:

 

While Canadians who arrive late for Mass I think would try to sneak into the back pews unnoticed, I’ve seen Mexicans arrive very late DURING MASS and walk right up to the steps leading to the altar to genuflect and cross themselves before sitting down. (During the movie, the angel actually complains about a family that arrives late.)  They also get up and move around during Mass more readily.  I think there are two factors involved in this.  One is that Mexicans have slightly different idea of reverence; Mexicans can go to great lengths to show outward signs of reverence (crossing themselves, genuflecting, bowing, fully participating in the appropriate prayers), but not feel they are being irreverent by changing places in the church during Mass. In fact, if you just finished confession, you will always be moving to your “normal” spot, and (in my experience) this happens every Mass when 2 priests are available. … Mexican morality (and reverence) is more heavily based on active outward signs (bowing, etc.) more freely expressed, not only the prescribed time, while we Anglophones tend to focus on prohibitions (you shouldn’t get up or make noise during mass, you shouldn’t show up late, etc.) I suspect a balance of the two is necessary (I’m too new to Catholicism to say if either approach is more correct than the other), but I’ve seen enough of Canadian and Mexican culture to know that this factor is definitely related to how each culture views “reverence.”

 

The second factor of people moving around is that in Mexico Catholicism is the default religion.  In the U.S., Canada and many other places, Catholics are a minority - a large minority, but for all but 2 days of the year, the only people who show up for Mass are the more devout Catholics.  This means these devout few will be more dedicated to showing reverence and respect through silence and staying still.  In Mexico, since it’s the communal religion, anyone and everyone - devout or not, sometimes even non-Catholic - shows up for mass.  This means that you’ll have non-devout people in the Mass who may not understand or value reverence.  So why do they go then?  Because it’s the only place where you go to experience God more closely.  Some people think they have to go, even though they are not devout.  In many parts of Mexican culture, it’s almost just automatic.  It’s what you do.  So while you have some devout and reverent people who don’t feel it’s irreverent to move about, there are also plenty of non-devout Catholics who simply don’t know better or care much about reverence.

 

Closely related is that I’ve seen people in Mexico who just happen to be wandering by, or feel down on life, and stop in for a prayer - during Mass or not.  Sometimes they stay for the whole Mass, other times they leave when they finish their own prayer.  In fact, this is the whole context of the movie; it’s just that the story conveniently has the three main characters show up just as mass is beginning.  If you imagine a real culture (like Mexico) where people will tend to go to the church as a refuge in times of personal turmoil, it’s not always going to work out so “neatly” that they show up just on time for mass.

 

Just to be clear, I agree with our northern ideas about reverence.  Also it’s not that every Mass in Mexico has noisy distractions and lots of people moving around (depending on the specific community, there are churches that wouldn’t have this at all), but what I saw in the movie looked “normal” in the context of Mexico, and I think it helps us to understand why they made the movie that way.

 

So, how do you think reverence is shown most appropriately?  Silence/prohibitions?  Outward signs and visible affection? Both?  Or maybe not at all?

Catholic Church in Decline in Canada?

I'm re-posting this from my other blog, "Imagine," which I'm deleting. 

There seem to be two fairly strong (and false) ideas present in Canada these days.  One is that Christianity is loosing footing among the younger generation; the other is that the Catholic Church, along with other traditional churches, is in even greater decline than Christianity as a whole, loosing numbers in droves to more contemporary churches and atheism.  I would argue that both of these ideas are based in manipulation of numbers to give the illusion of decline, presumably to suggest a lack of integrity or relevance.

Consider these stats about Catholicism and Christianity in Canada:

About Catholics:

• The population of Catholics in Canada between 1991 and 2001 GREW 4.5%, which is less than the population growth of 9.8% but nevertheless significant growth.
  
• In strict numerical terms Catholics grew by almost 600,000 - a number larger than the population of most cities in Canada.  Interestingly enough most "statistical" articles (including Stats Canada) present this as a decline.  How does growth of 600,000 people represent decline?
  
• By actual numbers (i.e. not percentages), Catholic growth outdid the #2 Christian group by over 5 times.

About Orthodox:

• Interestingly, the #2 group (in terms of straight numerical growth) was Orthodox Christians who grew by 107,000.
  
• The numerical growth of Orthodox is phenomenal when seen as a percentage; it was by far the highest percentage growth with 28%.

The only exception is "Christian, not included elsewhere" which grew by 110%; this stat can't be compared in itself since it refers to all miscellaneous groups, rather than one single group.  However, it's important to note a few points.

• One is that numerical growth in this "misc" category (425,000) was still well below that of Catholics.
  
• Another is that I believe this growth reflects the rise of many new, smaller denominations, and also the ever more popular non-denominational movement.
  
• Finally, it shows the fact that Christians in Canada are not so much abandoning their religion, but rather changing denominations or moving to a non-denominational concept (I think I read an article pointing this out about the U.S.)

Five months ago, I thought I was joining a church in sharp numerical decline, especially in a country like Canada, only to find out the exact opposite is true.  As these stats show, it's simply absurd to claim that all traditional churches are in numerical decline in Canada. Some traditional Protestant groups are definitely in numerical decline (for example, Anglicans and Lutherans), but  Catholics and Orthodox definitely aren’t.

Just to be clear, I don't believe that size, growth, or lack of either are necessarily important indicators of a church's integrity; I don’t believe that being “big” or “small” is any reflection of a church’s integrity.  I am presenting these statistics only to show that the idea is false that the most traditional churches are in numerical decline, and that this imagined decline indicates some faulty approach or lack of ability to connect with the current generation.

However, I do believe that these stats show the beginning of an important and positive shift in Canadian Christianity.

My next post will be about the role of immigrants in this pattern.

Stats from: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census

A Trip to the Library – Educational or Entertaining?

When I was visiting a library in Halifax this summer, I overheard a German family discussing some videos that the pre-teen children were choosing.  The parents were looking over the case of a video somehow related to Shakespeare – I’m guessing it might have been that version of Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo Dicaprio.

“Is this really educative?” asked the mother. (She said “educative” rather than “educational.”)
The father took the case. “I don’t think they have anything to do with Shakespeare these days,” he observed.
They proceeded to discuss the item in terms of morality, quality, entertainment and educational value.

Listening to the conversation, I realized two things; one is that this is probably a good thing; the other is how rare this kind of care is among parents these days.  In the whole week I spent in that library, this was the only family in which the parents were actively engaged in the values of their children’s choice of material.  Everything about it would be foreign to so many people; encouraging kids to go to the library, going with them as a family, reviewing and discussing the material they choose, caring, talking to them about it, knowing something about it …

For me, it was as though the conversation was from another world.  Where I live in Mexico, libraries are few and far between, and the few that exist are way underused. It would be a miracle that parents even encourage their kids to go to a library, let alone care what their kids are doing there.  When my wife and I arrived to Canada, she was simply overjoyed to have a good library right in the community, within walking distance.  While I think there’s a better culture for visiting the library, but I suspect it’s much more for entertainment than for learning. I also suspect that few parents actually supervise and discuss the educational, moral and quality value of what their kids choose.

With only a 3-year-old, I it’s not much of a task to review the content of the books yet. That’s coming in a few years.  I suspect one day we’ll be that odd family in the library who actually cares about all of that stuff.

Forbidden Love

Here’s a true story I’ve seen unfold over the past two years since I moved into my neighbourhood.  Among the first to move into the neighbourhood was a handsome youth with wavy blond hair (a rarity in Mexico) whom everybody loves (we’ll call him “Fernando” to protect his true identity.)

 

Within a couple of weeks another youth (“Ramon”) moved in two doors down, and the two became friends.  Somewhat later, the parents of Ramon became concerned that he was still single, and they decided to find a wife for him – yes, an arranged marriage!  The lovely young lady (“Lola”) moved in with Ramon; however, although they liked each other on a certain level, they’ve never really connected, and to this day their marriage remains somewhat distant.

 

As Ramon and Fernando continued to spend their evenings together, Fernando and Lola came to a difficult realization; they were in love.

 

As the days, weeks and months go by, their love grows, as does their sorrow.  While they find joy in the moments they could see each other, they were careful since they don’t want to hurt Ramon.  Either he is so innocent that he doesn’t notice, or he notices and chooses not to react (perhaps out of sadness, perhaps out of indifference to his marriage) – I really can’t tell. 

 

Lola and Fernando also fear Ramon’s parents who are determined not to let Lola disgrace their family.  Fernando’s parents (he lives in their house, still) are suspicious and are both disapproving and vigilant.

 

Just this week, a possibly dangerous development took place.  Lola’s godmother caught her and Fernando hiding in a home under construction – they were alone, with tears in their eyes and embracing.  She angrily sent Fernando home and scolded Fernando telling him he ought to be ashamed of himself.  While I don’t think that her godmother told Ramon’s parents, she did tell Fernando’s.  They're furious, and have forbidden him from leaving the house when she is out – she’s very traditional, and usually only goes out with Ramon, with leave of his parents. (You could imagine the shock of the godmother!)

 

Yesterday I saw Fernando sitting his window, watching out of his window, trembling with desire and bitterness; she saw him, walked over to the window, touched the roses growing below the window, and leaned over to smell one of them; as she did this her eyes met Fernando’s for a moment, and then she walked away and went on her way with Ramon.

 

The sad part about this story is that it’s true.  The happy part about the story is that it’s about dogs, not humans! “Fernando” is my dog, Simba. Ramon and Lola are the real names of the neighbours’ 2 Chihuahuas.  The only parts I changed were a few details to “humanize” the story – e.g. the “godmother” is the owner’s mother often who takes care of Ramon and Lola.  She didn’t really see tears in the dogs’ eyes, but the rest is true; I really did see Simba trembling with desire, Lola really did reach her head out to sniff the roses growing under our window, and their eyes really did mean.  Of course, I didn’t point out that Lola was sniffing the roses because Simba had “marked” them; that just wouldn’t have sounded romantic.

Online in Mexico - the Mexican Way!

Well, this isn't the connection I have, but I'm not sure which is sketchier.

After over a month of having internet access only at work and sporadically through a shared cell-phone network portable modem, I'm finally re-connected with a full-time internet connection at home!  The best part about it is that it's thoroughly Mexican way of getting the internet as well.

Back in Canada, if you want the internet, you call your phone company, they come and set it up, and it gets charged on your phone bill.  While this is definitely an option in a growing number of places in Mexico, phone lines have not yet been installed where I'm living - another difference, since I'm sure in Canada, homes wouldn't be sold before the phone lines go into the community.  The two options here are a cell-phone network connection like I mentioned above, or a sketchy wireless service that requires someone to put a big antenna on their roof.  I've now opted for this second option.  (No offense to anyone reading this who provides sketchy wireless connections -  I'm quite happy with mine right now!)

Fortunately I'm not the one with the big antenna on my roof.  One of my neighbors did that and he's splitting the service with a few people in the neighborhood.

So, now I can get back into my bad habits of staying up till 2 in the morning writing blogs and checking Facebook.

Our New Kitchen

Recently, we had a new kitchen counter put in, which ended up almost being a complete remodelling of the kitchen.  Before the remodelling, we had a door and a window at the back of the kitchen, a solitary sink and no counter.  The stove, dishes, toaster, etc. were all on various items of furniture.

We had the door and the window removed and filled in with concrete blocks. (All construction here in Mexico is concrete blocks and/or poured concrete.)  The door was moved about 3 feet over to a place where there had been a tall window before.

Then we had a counter built across the entire back and side of the kitchen with a shelf under it, and a space at the end for the stove – all out of concrete, of course.

At this point, before the work had been finished, and before the wall had been sealed off, we were hit by a tropical storm – about 2 weeks ago.  We spent much of one night mopping up water.  (See picture 2 – notice how wet the new blocks in the wall are.)

After the sun had dried up the new wall enough, the person doing the work for us put tiles on the counter and the wall, installed the sink into the counter (along with the tap and drain) and sealed off the wall, finishing everything – the wall and non-tiled parts of the counter – with a grey stucco. (See picture 3)  We also had the floor under the counter raised 2 cm so it could be used for storage.

Finally, we finished the job by painting all the stucco, which we did ourselves with the help of our 3-year-old son. (See pictures 4 and 5, below)

We now have a wonderful new kitchen with plenty of space to work that is not the kitchen table and is easy to keep clean. We also have enough space for all the dishes and dry food underneath.  We chose plain white tiles, with a brown, blue and yellow traditional, Mexican trim. (See picture 1 – above - and 6 & 7 – below)

For another post about home improvements, see:
Another video blog - My new closet - I made part of it!
Renovation, the Canadian Way

Travel Safely in … Mexico City?

My closest brush with crime in Mexico City was one day when I was coming out of the subway, and I saw a guy who was very well dressed in the trendiest clothes listening to his iPod, wearing sunglasses that were probably worth more than the suit I was wearing and the laptop I was carrying put together.  Within about 5 seconds someone had approached him from the front, and someone else from behind, and stripped him of every last item of value he was carrying.

 

I had been carrying a briefcase and wearing a suit, but I guess these thieves know what they’re doing; although I was dressed for a business-type job, they could tell I really didn’t have items that would be worth anything to them.

 

For a place that has a reputation for being unsafe, I’d say it’s pretty impressive that during 2 years, this was my closest brush was crime – especially considering I lived in some not-so-nice neighbourhoods.

 

While I definitely been lucky, and had some excellent “guides” (my wife, friends, etc.), I think it’s also safe to say that a good way to avoid robbery in Mexico City is not to carry things worth steeling.  Dress in regular clothes and leave the valuables at home.

 

With that rule of thumb in mind, I think that it’s also safe to say that it’s no more dangerous to be in Mexico City than in just about any other large city.  People get nervous simply because of the city’s size; there are definitely places best avoided, and a common sense is needed, I would say this is even more true in cities like Detroit.  According to Wikipedia, Mexico City isn’t as safe as “highly developed western European cities such as Frankfurt or Barcelona but is safer then cities such as Moscow or Washington DC.”

 

Lonely Planet listed Mexico City as one of its “Top 8 places to (safely) visit in Mexico now,” saying:

 

“There really is no more fascinating city in the world than Mexico’s misunderstood capital. With a population of over 21 million (and a crime rate about a third of Washington, DC’s), Mexico City had a serious scrub-up for its bi-centennial, and now some places like mariachi-filled Plaza Garibaldi are considered (like Times Square in New York) safe enough to be a ‘Disney version’ of its former gritty self.”

 

Mexico City has many beautiful places to visit, and my advice to travellers is definitely worth going; travellers need to use common sense (as anywhere else) but can go there with confidence that they will be fairly safe.