Facing Off!

Working in a cross-cultural, social, political and economic context is complex. There are many factors that shape people's responses - history, status, community leadership, expectations, fear, political realities, etc. To complicate things even further we, as outsiders usually bring our personal assumptions with us about how to work in another context and often we have the answers to questions that have been asked - but only by us.

It is easy to approach our work in the southern African region from a deficit perspective when we see the lack of infrastructure, the lack of access to resources, and recognize that basic needs of families and individuals are not being met. There is so much 'need' around us that it is hard to see anything else. Unfortunately this perspective clouds our vision and we begin to think that our role is one of remedying the deficit by bringing in our resources. So already then we have defined the questions and figured out the obvious answers..

The other day as we were hiking across an open field a herd of cattle came running towards us. Now normally cattle are not a threat to hikers but these were kicking up their heels and swinging their wide horns and seeming rather too frisky as they cantered our way. When they got to close we hollered at them and waved our hands. They came to a stop and looked at us for awhile as they pawed the ground. Then they galloped off only to circle the field and come upon us again just as we were nearing the fence - so it was obvious that they knew where we were headed. So we stared at them and they at us- uncertain of each others intent. Would they let us through or block our path? What was the matter with them? Was this a stand off?


It reminds me that often we are uncertain of the context within which we work and to which we bring our gifts and resources. Before trying to supply the answers maybe it is better to figure out what is going on and what the intent of the other is or we may be blocked by uncertain behaviour or complex realities beyond our comprehension. Maybe we need to recognize the rules of the field and who has the right of way. Every action or reaction is based on historical context and present forces. The cattle were responding to our presence because of previous human interaction that we did not know. Maybe they were assuming we were bringing feed, perhaps they saw us as a threat? We did not know why they were acting that way but we knew we were somehow influencing the nature of the 'face off'! Our presence had precipitated the behaviour of the cattle but how were we to sort this out? Some wanted to run while others picked up rocks to throw at the cattle.