One of the first things you notice when you arrive in Ghana is the press of people. For North Americans, accustomed as we are to our personal space, this can be intimidating. From the crowds in the airport to the cars in the street, people are close. But its more than close; it's aggressive.
Wherever you are, someone else wants to be there. The only way to go anywhere is to be as aggressive as the locals. Know where you intend to go, be aggressive, and don't falter.
However, don't take the aggression personally, and don't mistake it for a lack of concern or graciousness. Often, once personal rights are established, a place is surrendered with grace.
As you head for the customs line, you'll think everyone plans to arrive at the same place at the same time. If you falter or hesitate, no one will stop to allow you a place. But if you charge ahead, somehow you'll discover that everyone respects your right to be there, no one is upset or angry, and everyone finally finds a place in line.
On the street, cars are everywhere. And though the traffic is bumper to bumper, cars will be edging into the traffic flow from the curbs and creeping through the stop lights, apparently designing to smash into your vehicle without regard for safety or concern for damage. Again, if you falter or hesitate, no one will offer to let you proceed. But if you confidently move ahead, miraculously everyone seems to let you pass, without anger or temper.
But while you see people-and drivers-aggressively ignoring people attempting to break into traffic, you see the same people-and drivers-abruptly stopping to allow others into the traffic pattern. It's as though in an unspoken language everyone is shouting, "Don't get in my way!" but following it immediately with, "Now that you recognize my right, I'll be happy to let you go first."
These two apparently contradictory attitudes are important lessons for life and leadership. I need to know my role, my place, my gifts, my abilities, my call. But I should yield to your role, your place, your gifts, your abilities, and your call. I can't doubt my position in the Kingdom, but I can't get in your way, either. It is precisely when I know who I am in Christ and move forward confidently in that knowledge, that I can afford to advance you in the Kingdom. I don't think of myself more highly, or more lowly, than I should. Nor do I think of you more lowly, or more highly, than I should.
Wouldn't the Christian life be great if we were all so confident of who we are in Christ that we could yield gracefully, and encourage others, to advance in the Kingdom.