One of our biggest challenges in Delhi was figuring out who to trust. Tobiah astutely observed that 'Indians are very friendly,' however, they are not always helpful. As we toured sites, found appointments, or tried new things we found people were indeed very helpful. others who were misguided, and many who were mis-guiding.
When trying to figure out how to get in and see the mighty Red Fort in Delhi, before we realized it we had acquired a gray market tour guide... but he did get us to the right places and teach us a few things. As that was the first stop on our day of touring many of the major sites of the city it was a helpful learning experience. But were the prices good at the cottage industry fixed price bazaar we were taken to at the end of the day a good deal or not? Were the claims of good prices because of government subsidies true - hopefully we will never know.
When trying to find the meeting place for the tour with the organization working with street kids we knew it was just down from the rail station - where we had our wake up experience upon arrival. It was a few minute walk from the hotel - but a few friendly and seemingly helpful men just about derailed our journey as one tried to convince me the road we were about to head down was closed, and another sought to get us into a tuktuk on the way to a place better suited for tourists.... Ultimately we had to ignore these new friends and go with what we thought we knew - and low and behold the road was open and I did know the way!
I could go on, but the point isn't about the people who we discovered we could not trust - but rather the realization of how many people we do trust. If we do not trust people, life gets very hard. Do we trust the staff at the hotel with semi-valuables left in the room? What about traveling overnight to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, and leaving just about all our belongings in the care of complete strangers back in Delhi? (strangers once again being hotel staff) Would the taxi driver wait for us and be there when we come out of the site? Will the guide arranged for us actually be there? Is the food being prepared in a sanitary way by the restaurant staff?
Everyday in our mundane lives we operate on trust. In our shopping, driving, banking and work we operate on trust. We don't think about it much because we know the people, the systems, the norms, the signs and the cues. It is when we are in a foreign situation, when the familiar is stripped away, trust becomes a choice. We make our best decision on who to trust, take a step of faith, and commit. Or maybe we don't.... but if we choose not to trust, we have to lug all our baggage with us, we have to limit our opportunities, we have less risk and much less opportunity.
Traveling in India these days have reminded me about trust - and the importance of trusting wisely in the trustworthy. And upon reflection, that is exactly what Jen and I have sought to do with our lives as we trust God with our lives. With God, we can leave our baggage behind, travel light through life, and have a great adventure knowing God loves us and cares for us and is the trustworthiest!
When trying to figure out how to get in and see the mighty Red Fort in Delhi, before we realized it we had acquired a gray market tour guide... but he did get us to the right places and teach us a few things. As that was the first stop on our day of touring many of the major sites of the city it was a helpful learning experience. But were the prices good at the cottage industry fixed price bazaar we were taken to at the end of the day a good deal or not? Were the claims of good prices because of government subsidies true - hopefully we will never know.
When trying to find the meeting place for the tour with the organization working with street kids we knew it was just down from the rail station - where we had our wake up experience upon arrival. It was a few minute walk from the hotel - but a few friendly and seemingly helpful men just about derailed our journey as one tried to convince me the road we were about to head down was closed, and another sought to get us into a tuktuk on the way to a place better suited for tourists.... Ultimately we had to ignore these new friends and go with what we thought we knew - and low and behold the road was open and I did know the way!
I could go on, but the point isn't about the people who we discovered we could not trust - but rather the realization of how many people we do trust. If we do not trust people, life gets very hard. Do we trust the staff at the hotel with semi-valuables left in the room? What about traveling overnight to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, and leaving just about all our belongings in the care of complete strangers back in Delhi? (strangers once again being hotel staff) Would the taxi driver wait for us and be there when we come out of the site? Will the guide arranged for us actually be there? Is the food being prepared in a sanitary way by the restaurant staff?
Everyday in our mundane lives we operate on trust. In our shopping, driving, banking and work we operate on trust. We don't think about it much because we know the people, the systems, the norms, the signs and the cues. It is when we are in a foreign situation, when the familiar is stripped away, trust becomes a choice. We make our best decision on who to trust, take a step of faith, and commit. Or maybe we don't.... but if we choose not to trust, we have to lug all our baggage with us, we have to limit our opportunities, we have less risk and much less opportunity.
Traveling in India these days have reminded me about trust - and the importance of trusting wisely in the trustworthy. And upon reflection, that is exactly what Jen and I have sought to do with our lives as we trust God with our lives. With God, we can leave our baggage behind, travel light through life, and have a great adventure knowing God loves us and cares for us and is the trustworthiest!
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