You're different? that's cool - let's be friends

 Well there is no better way to start a blog post than with a quiz!

I hope I didn't scare you away. Are you still there?  If so, stay with me. I promise this quiz is easy – all you have to do is make a mental check next to the statements that apply to you. 

​You might be wondering why I am so curious to learn whether you know how to get a library card. The purpose of this quiz is to illustrate a point. If you are falling more into the purple box, odds are you grew up in generational poverty. If you are falling into the green box, more than likely you grew up middle class. Some of us might assume everyone knows how to get a library card – seems easy enough. The reality is that if you don’t know how to do some of the things in the purple box, you cannot possibly expect others to know the hidden rules of middle class.  As you may have guessed, there is even a different set of “hidden rules” for wealth - all of which I did not know (but we won’t get into that)! 

​When I started New Beginnings in Milwaukee in 2014, I was surprised to learn all of the hidden rules associated with poverty. It was at that time that I recognized how many hidden rules we have in middle class. Both cultures have different rules, but that is not to say that one is better than the other. One of the keys to understanding one another, whether from another culture or not, is by forming relationships. In fact, it is by relationships that we can change lives. 

​As Christians, we aim to meet people where they are at, and build our relationship with that person both interpersonally and emotionally. More importantly, we take that relationship a step further by sharing the saving message of God’s grace. Life isn’t always about understanding one another fully, but rather about forming relationships and meeting people where they are at. We don’t have to understand all of the hidden rules, but we should aim to acknowledge them. Let’s not always expect everyone to be like us, let’s not jump to conclusions about who they are, and let’s not judge on the basis of having little or having lots. When we do those things, we lose out on unique opportunities to help others grow (and probably grow ourselves too). 

Form relationships, share knowledge, share Christ, and through that power, change lives. 

I encourage you to form a relationship with someone who differs from you in some way. I can assure you that a relationship built on the foundation of Christ is never in vein. 

Brianne Hansen is the Executive Director at New Beginnings. She grew up in Marshall, WI and graduated from Lakeside Lutheran High School. Brianne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UW-Milwaukee and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys singing, camping, spending time with her dog (Bella) and cats (Mufasa & Jasmine), and going on adventures with her husband, Daniel.  ​

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