Social networking and facebook are simply the current model
of what people have always done: present themselves to the people around them,
watch what others are doing and make judgements based on what they see and
hear. The speed of news in the village leaves the internet for dead at times.
Although what the truth is underlying the story that is told can be equally
mysterious in both places.
In this context, of both high speed village news and an
online presence, I find myself juggling the concepts of doing what is right,
being seen to do what is right, and living in the freedom of the Gospel. Let me
give you some examples
Gossip is destructive, and once a story is out it takes on a
life of its own and cannot be brought back under control. As a single woman, it
is easy for gossip to spread about what man I was seen with and what we were
doing. As my translation team is made up of men, I am often left juggling
social situations to make sure that we are seen to be above reproach. When I
need to talk with my village brother, we do so in the yard, not on the enclosed
veranda. If we need to work on the veranda on the computer, his wife or his
children normally come with, to keep everything above board. If a man needs his
phone charged, he will send it to me with his children. If he comes himself,
kids will always come with him. All of this social engineering is to make sure
that rumours cannot be spread, as there was a group present, not a secret
meeting of two people.
It is not just in the village that I juggle these things, as
Ukarumpa has been called Uka-rumour with good reason. One time a single guy
came to visit while my yad meri (gardener) was working outside. We sat in the
lounge by the big glass windows, where she very obviously kept an eye on us to
make sure nothing happened. Had she not seen enough to keep her happy, valley
rumour would have had us ‘married’ by nightfall. Another time a colleague came
to help fix something in my house, and his wife came with, to make sure no-one
could spread rumours. It was not that she didn’t trust me or her husband, but
that she did trust the speed at which rumours can develop and damage can be
done.
The social management involved with being a single woman is
not the only area in which I find myself making sure I am seen to do what is
right. Alcohol is another area. At home in Australia I like a glass of wine
with friends. In PNG I very rarely drink. At home social drinking is normal.
Here drinking is associated with drunkenness and is not Christian. I agree that
drunkenness is not the life Christ calls us to, but I do miss a quiet drink
with friends.
The challenge of being seen to right, as well as doing
right, is not just my challenge. I have reminded my village brother, who was
the voice of Jesus in the Jesus film of this a few times. If he does things
that people see as immoral, they will no longer trust the film or the story of
Jesus. For all Christians, it is a challenge to proclaim Christ with our action
as well as our words, but for him, this is doubly true.
All of this social engineering seems very restrictive at
times, especially when I consider myself free from the law to live a life of
grace. Putting on what can feel like act to show others that I am doing the
right thing, when the fruit of the Spirit is self control and I should be
trusted to do the right thing, regardless of appearances, is frustrating. Still,
I need to balance doing right and being seen to do right. I also need to
balance the living in the freedom of the gospel with the knowledge that people
will make their own judgements of their actions and base future decisions on
this.
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| River view from Ubuo. |
