Alien

A Japanese man befriended me while I was at the University of Kansas.  Sometime after he introduced himself, he asked me about my ancestry.  He was shocked when I told him I was Japanese.  He then told me about the group of friends he hung out with.  It was an international blend of students—Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese among them.  I found out that I was a subject of their discussions as they were trying to figure out where I was from.  In my head I could hear each of them say, “He’s not one of ours…He’s not from around here…”

I don’t remember the city or island that my Japanese friend was from, but the way I walked and my mannerism was not like a Japanese person.  It didn’t help much when I told him I was Okinawan.  But I get that.   Growing up in Hawaii, the majority of the population was Japanese.  Whenever we saw someone who came from Japan we knew that he or she was not “one of us.”  Without hearing their speech we could tell by the way they walked, dressed, and moved that he or she was not “local.”

Shortly after this experience, I moved to Connecticut and have been here ever since.  It’s been over 40 years now, but I am frequently reminded of that experience that I had in Kansas.  The reason I remember that experience is because I am often reminded that I am an “alien.”  It doesn’t matter where I am in this state, someone will come up to me and start speaking in Spanish.  When I was younger, I put people in their place by saying, “Whatcha’ talking about, man?”  These days I respond with, “Excuse me, I didn’t understand…”

Robin thinks I may look Mexican.  Others think I look like I am from South America.  Someone said I look like an Eskimo.  Someone once asked me, “What tribe are you from?”  Regardless of what people think, it reminds me that I am different.  I used to be offended, but now I’m okay with it.

I’m okay with whatever people think because I am reminded that I am an alien, pilgrim, or stranger here and my “citizenship is in heaven” and I “eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 3:20).

No matter what people call me or who they think I am, I know Who I belong to.