Howard Merrell Responded

Happiness,
Thanks.
I posted some thoughts that are related to culture on my blog a couple of weeks ago, http://howardmerrell.blogspot.com/. Scroll down to "Ministering Inter-culturally" and "Becoming Who We Are."
At the risk of becoming culturally insensitive and defensive of my own culture let me pick at a couple things in your post, hopefully resulting in greater clarity of thought and sensitivity for both of us--and others.
You state: "There's no "8 O'clock go here, by 9 go there..." mentality. I have the comfort and freedom to change my schedule, and my life won't be affected by it. Too many people are running their lives based on time. They do it for the sake of their job, and goals. Good for them. I am at a better advantage living a more care-free and leisurely life. This is truly a blessing. In this day and age, time is running the show too much. At least in these islands, I am running my own time."
Your statement seems to indicate that how one views time is a purely personal matter. You speak of your cultural view of time using the pronouns "I" "my" and "my own." You imply that those who manage their time more by the clock do it to further their own goals.
I would suggest that as is the case with many cultural matters when we defend our way, because it makes us more comfortable we are wrong. In the USA it is culturally inappropriate for me to make someone wait for an appointment. I might be costing them money. They might have another appointment. Perhaps I am even depriving someone else of my service, ministry, loving presence, etc. later in the day, because I have not managed my schedule well at this point. None of that has to do with me. I need to serve others by appropriately managing my time. It is not necessarily self-oriented.
In the same way, when I am in your culture, I ought not to become upset at someone for being late to an appointment. Unless I know otherwise I need to assume that my late friend is behaving appropriately. If his/her lateness is matter of selfishness that is a matter for her/him to take up with the Lord. I am not the Holy Spirit.

Just one other observation. maybe it wasn't intentional, but you link the "more care-free and leisurely life." with subsitence living, which you say is "pretty low." During my brief visits to Micronesia I have noticed people using outboard motors, attached to fiberglass boats. Many of the houses have electricity. People who live near roads often use cars or trucks. Some Micronesians are reading this on a computer in an internet cafe or library at a sophisticated college or such institution. Perhaps there is a way to have both the more laid-back attitude toward time and these products of industrialized culture. If so, I am not aware of it. Industry is very time-conscious.
As the interface of my time-conscious culture and your event-oriented society grows greater, what solutions do you offer? Can you benefit from the technological advances of a culture that values promptness, and works 9 to 5, and still maintain a lifestyle in which being two hours late (I realize that even speaking of being late is to bring my culture into a description of yours)is perfectly acceptable?
I have to end this comment. I'm late. : )

6:36 PM