The Power of a Greeting

I hear people in the States often complain about the shallowness of greetings. We say "How are are you?" and we fully anticipate the returning "I'm good, how are are you?" It is never expected that anyone would ever respond with anything other than "good", "fine", "busy", "okay", etc. We don't actually ask to know how people are but rather just to acknowledge the other person. I have also been annoyed with the shallowness of many of these brief greetings, however, my short time in Zambia has given me a different perspective.

In Zambia, everyone stops to ask how the other person and their family is doing. The response 95% of the time is "fine". In the languages that we hear it sounds like "motozi chwani" (Lozi language), "muli bwanje" (Nyanja language), along with the greetings in Tonga, Toka, and Bemba that are in this region of Zambia. Yes, there are a lot of languages in this small area! Zambia has a population that is 1 1/2 times the size of Michigan but it has over 70 languages! 

It is easy to dismiss all of these greetings as being empty banterings. The fact that they all use the word "fine" instead of "good" sounds even more shallow to my ears. However, I am learning the power of a greeting. In Zambia, it really is an act of acknowledging a person and recognizing that they have value. It may be displayed through being the first to give the greeting when crossing paths with someone who is older to show them respect. It may be recognizing a person's value by tipping a hat, extending a handshake, stooping down to one knee to greet someone sitting, or giving two hand claps as you say the greeting to another passing by. It is all about the action of respect, acknowledgment, and expressing that you notice this individual and believe that they have value. It is even more powerful when we are able to speak that greeting in the other person's heart language. The smiles get bigger and the value is displayed as they realize that you are not just another white tourist rushing by not caring to take the time for a simple greeting.

And that is what the kingdom of God is all about. God noticed us and had so much compassion that he sent His only son Jesus to this earth. He was sent here to speak our language and to notice the outcasts who were labeled as widows, orphans, uneducated, sinners, tax collectors, and aliens. And Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of love by dying for us that there would be no separation between God and His children.

And the kingdom has advanced through slaves being able to sit at the same table as their masters to partake in the Lord's Supper. Through divisions of wealth, race, and education being torn down as we are all one body of believers. And we hold to the message that everyone has value, is made in God's image, and deserves respect because of what Jesus did.

So this simple greeting is profound to me. I do think it is amazing when people are able to sprinkle truths about God in their greetings so that it becomes even more of an intimate experience. But I just really want to be the person that takes the time to notice the people around me and thereby express the value that God places on each of His kiddos!