I am: Third culture

A few weeks ago I wrote about my identity crisis - who am I?

Since that writing I have a job. But, that is not who I am.

I don't know that I will ever fully answer this philosophical inquiry, but bit-by-bit as I unpack the depths of this question I will post my findings here.

Finding #1 - I am Third Culture

What does that mean?

To me, that means I was born in one culture that for many years defined my life and shaped my perspectives. As I was exposed to other cultures and then by living in other parts of the world I discovered how much my ideas, perspective and judgments were influenced by my culture of origin...and these things began to change.

I now feel like I co-exist in two worlds, on two plains, with my feet in two realities. I am not suffering from multiple personality disorder. Rather, I understand my culture of origin at a deep level (probably deeper than when I was oblivious to it's influence), but I also relate in a meaningful way to those from cultures other than my own. I am not defined by one culture, but rather fluidly going from one to another. This is how I define "third culture." It is part of who I am today...and hopefully who I will be in the days to come.

Dave Gibbons is a man talking a lot about this concept in the church world. He says:

We're seeing the emergence of people and leaders who can live in the intersections between divergent ideas; people who understand the fringes and the margins yet can weave in and out of multiple cultures, honoring each context yet without alienating those on the fringes.

I can see value in such a perspective. What do you think?

just Sheri, a third culture adult