Gracias a Dios
¿Cómo estás? my neighbor asks me.
Bien, ¡gracias a Dios! I say, this time truly meaning it.
I am well, and owe every bit of that to God's wonderful purpose and provision.
If you're reading this blog, you almost certainly know
that ADE is a Christian organization and that Costa Rican culture is largely
Catholic. You are also likely from Canada or the United States, whose cultures
are heavily influenced by Christianity. Practicing Christians form 70% and 55%
of the U.S. and Canadian populations, respectively. In contrast, 84% of ticos
(Costa Ricans) identify as Christian. Despite the heavy influence of
Christianity on U.S. culture, Christian religious motifs are much more common
in nearly every aspect of Costa Rican culture, including in business and even
government.
When I decided to join ADE and move to Costa Rica, I was
already aware of these facts. I was prepared to enter into a culture much
different than my own, especially regarding the prevalence of religious references.
I even knew that ticos frequently use religious phrases in casual conversation.
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| Church congregation during the Dia de San Rafeal. |
It's probably been a while since you heard a pastor ask a
congregation "How are you all this morning?" with a response of
"Well, thanks be to God." (Thanks, coronavirus.) This type of
response is so automatic, we often say it without actually thanking God.
When I arrived in Costa Rica, I was astonished to realize
how often ticos reference faith in their daily lives. I can't count all the
times I hear the phrases "Bien, gracias a Dios," (well, thanks to
God) and "si Dios quiere" (literally if God wants, or more
vernacularly God-willing) in a day.
Hearing those phrases in a language not my first makes me
stop and think. It's hard to know whether the speaker means the full weight of
these phrases, given their ubiquitousness.
For me, the frequent use of "gracias a Dios"
and "si Dios quiere" is a wonderful gift, and reminds me of God's
very real presence every time I hear them. I've started to use these phrases
myself. But because they are not automatic to me, their mention turns my gaze
towards the Lord.
Our next EcoGuardianes event will be successful, si Dios
quiere. This reminds me that it really will be successful, if God wants it to
be. All the meticulous planning and list checking I do cannot make
EcoGuardianes fruitful if it is not in God's will. Any success in my work
occurs because God wishes it and makes it happen, usually in spite of me.
I challenge you to go forward with greater awareness of
the words you use, religious or not. Our speech has power, so let's use it to
turn our focus towards the Lord.
What do you thank God for?
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