Chapter 6

Entering

            The entering stage begins when your mind is unpacked, and it lasts until you are fully involved again.  Just crossing the border into your passport country does not mean that you are really back into your passport culture.  It takes time and energy to reenter the culture, get updated, and become a part of social groups again.  In the last chapter we saw that the Israelites were to “take possession” of their passport country which “God was giving” them.  God was giving it to them, but it was not theirs until they took possession of it.  It took them several years to do so.

Part 1: The Longest Reentry

            In preparing Joshua to help the Israelites enter their passport country, God gave him several wonderful promises in the first five verses of the book.  He followed these up with several commands.

• Be strong and courageous (v. 6).  Be strong and very courageous (v. 7).  Be strong and courageous (v. 9).
• Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you (v. 7).  Be careful to do everything in it (v. 8).
• Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night (v. 8).
• Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged (v. 9).

            The Israelites had seen God’s power displayed as they left Egypt by walking on the dry ground at the bottom of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).  They saw it displayed again in a similar way as they entered their passport country by walking on the dry ground at the bottom of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:14-17).  God had them build a memorial from stones taken from the river bottom so that their children would remember it forever (Joshua 4:20-23).

            God told Joshua, “I have delivered Jericho into your hands”—and then told Joshua what he had to do for the next seven days to actually take the city (Joshua 6:2).  It was a “done deal”—as long as he obeyed.  Joshua obeyed and reminded the people about keeping away from the “devoted things” that were to belong only to God, and they had a wonderful victory as they took the city.  Unfortunately, Joshua 7 begins with, “But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things.”  The ups and downs continue during the entering stage as well.

            Of course, the Israelites did not receive a warm welcome when they moved onto the west bank.  In fact, most of the people there prepared to go to war with them (Joshua 9:1-3).  Likewise, you may be disappointed in the welcome you receive in your passport country—though war is not likely.

            One thing that happened to the Israelites was that a group of people deceived them.  Those people pretended to be from far away and spoke favorably about God.  The Israelites made a peace treaty with them without consulting the Lord and later realized they had been tricked.  You may well be disappointed in people back home even if they do not deceive you.

            Again and again Joshua comes back to what God told him at the beginning.  “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 10:25).  This is a great verse to remember as you go through the entering stage yourself.

Part 2:  Reentry Today

            Though it took the Israelites about seven years to enter their passport culture, it usually takes about a year, a full annual cycle.  Keep in mind that many things have changed while you have been gone.  You have changed, as have your friends, your family, your church and your culture.  It takes time to reenter the culture.  Of course, things are never be the same as they were, but if you remain long enough, they reach a new state of equilibrium where you are again be “at home” in your passport culture.

You have changed

            Living in another culture and learning another language makes you realize that people view the world in different ways.  Though you may have thoroughly disliked your host culture as you went through culture shock while becoming part of it, you now may find that you dislike things about your passport culture, things that you thought were good when you left.  You may find that you do not “feel at home” when you get “home” and view it through your new framework.

Your friends have changed

            You were so much looking forward to picking up where you left off with your close friends, but you may not be able to do that.  You see familiar faces, but not familiar people.  Just as you have been changed by your experiences overseas, so they have been changed by their experiences at home.  You may be unable to “be yourself” and relax around them, and neither can they around you.  You get together with a group of old friends and find out that the social network of the group has changed, and different people are now best friends in the group.  You just aren’t able to break into the group or even carry on a lengthy conversation because you have so little in common.

            Just as the Israelites were not joyfully received in their passport culture, you may not be enthusiastically welcomed in yours.  Though war is not declared on you, you may find the welcome home more polite than joyful, and you may be disappointed in your underwhelming welcome.  You have to be the one to initiate relationships rather than waiting for others to do so.  Invite people over for dinner or table games.  Suggest that you all go for a hike or some other activity together.  Doing this several times will likely result in connecting with new friends or reconnecting with old ones.

Your family has changed

            When you meet family, you realize that the middle aged members are heavier, the retired ones are grayer and aged ones are feebler.  In addition to the obvious outward changes, some have also changed inwardly.  Just as you have been changed by your experiences, so have they.

            Some members of your family may no longer be alive; you miss them, and you realize that you have never really grieved for them, but everyone else is past that.  Others in your family may have married since you left, and you now have new in-laws as part of the family, people you do not really know.

Your church has changed

            You really loved your church when you left, but you are disillusioned by it now.  People in it have such narrow perspectives.  It seems like members are just apathetic and there is little spirituality there.  You have a new pastor and the governing board of the church has new members.  Long-time members of the church are gone.  You want to share in a service, but the pastor will not allow you to since you did not serve with the denominational mission.  You may find yourself becoming judgmental of the church and even developing disappointment, resentment, and bitterness against God.

Your culture has changed

            Elections held while you were gone may have put new people with new policies in power.  Moral standards may have changed so that you are appalled at what you see on television and see on magazine covers at the checkout counter.  Underlying philosophical changes may have taken place that change the way people think as they make decisions.  You may notice more wealth and materialism.  You may notice how superficial many relationships are.  Of course, some of these “changes” may really be changes in you.

Time Orientation

            During the entering phase, you begin to change from the future orientation of transit back toward an emphasis on the present.  As you do this you realize that the confusion and loneliness of the early part of the entering stage is temporary, that you will ultimately be able to live in the present again.

Social Characteristics

            You may find yourself a marginal person on the edge of groups, observing more than participating.  Your relationships are mostly superficial since you are not sure exactly where you fit, and you are not quite sure how to interpret nonverbal behaviors when you interact.  No one is quite sure how long you will remain where you are since you are new, so acceptance is tentative and relationships are often viewed as temporary.  You would like to find a “mentor” to help you break into the social network, but the ones most interested in befriending you seem to be marginal persons too.

Spiritual Characteristics

            The commands of Joshua 1 are as relevant for reentry today as they were thousands of years ago.  While obeying these specific commands, here are some other things to be aware of as you enter your passport country and take possession of it.

• The Israelites were not to ignore God’s Word but to “meditate on it day and night.”  In the chaos of transit and the busyness of entering people are tempted not to have their daily devotions, a big mistake.
• In addition to meditating on God’s Word they were to obey it all, to do everything it said.  God speaks through his Word as you meditate on it, and your responsibility is to do what he says.
• People who give God’s Word priority in their lives are less likely to be discouraged or terrified and more likely to be strong and courageous.  They realize that they are not facing life alone, but as a child of a loving heavenly Father who will guide them.

Psychological Characteristics

            You may tend to feel rather fearful and vulnerable, not sure what is going to happen and not wanting to do something offensive.  Mainly you feel lonely and somewhat confused.  At times you are rather miserable and even depressed.  Of course, you know that sometime you will find your place, but you hope it will be sooner rather than later.