Day 27: My faith

Yago once told me that Christianity is biased towards Americans, and he didn't think that was fair.  "It's so much easier for an American to believe in God than a European."  I got really mad at his statement and vehemently opposed it.  But then I really thought about it.  I am lucky to be an American because it means I speak English (an advantage anywhere in the world, and the number one reason I got the job I have now), because it means I can travel anywhere in the world (well, except Cuba) without having to apply for a visa (I didn't even realize it wasn't this way for everyone until last year), because it means I lived in a developed country where I had clean water and electricity freely at my disposal, and because it means I was born free.  I had never thought of my faith as a benefit received simply by being American as well, but I think it definitely is.

I'm not saying me being American is why I'm Christian, because Lord knows there are plenty of Americans who are atheists - one of my best friends being one of them - but it definitely plays a big part.  It is not uncommon to be a Christian in the states.  It is not uncommon to meet other Christians in the states or say "I'm a Christian" and get "Me too" in response.  It is not uncommon to be a part of Christian groups in churches and schools, or at least be aware of them and have them at your disposal, in the states.  And it is not uncommon to say your a Christian and have it left at that, in the states.  In spite of Spain being a "Catholic" country, none of that is the case here.  It is extremely rare to be a Christian here, more rare to tell someone you're a Christian and get the "Me too" response, and practically impossible to tell someone you're a Christian and have it left at that, with no intense interrogation and mocking of your faith.  It's just not the culture here.  So while Christianity is still available here, it is not as accepted.

However, as I mentioned above, I am not a Christian simply because I'm American.  I am Christian because I know God.  I have a relationship with Him.  His presence in my life is undeniable - and believe me, I've definitely tried denying it.  And it's more than just luck that I have these things, it is because I seek them out, I invest in them, and I work for them.  I didn't realize how difficult it was for others to do or have these things until having some deep conversations with one of my best friends, Erich and my boyfriend, Yago, which makes me especially thankful for what I have; because while some may see it as ignorance or a curse, I see it as a definite blessing.

And another tiny plug for Chad, he's actually writing a book about all this - what it means to be a Christian abroad, why and how we become Christians, etc - soon.