It is all about money

During the same week, that I had my Provincial visiting, there were two other visitors as well.  They were representing two of Caritas Thailand's major partners from Europe.  Both are major contributors to our good work here with migrants.  These two visits were hard work but enjoyable and most worthwhile for the progress of our mission. 

Both visits involved honest talking on issues.  In a place like Thailand, talking is not so direct and definitely Thais act against any confrontational talk even when the topic is serious and needs to be faced for future good purposes.  So when my boss asked the western European, female officer about supporting certain work financially and was told in one sentence that there was no money available for his request, I thought to myself how refreshing to have such directness and clarity. 

However, this was not so refreshing for my Thai boss.  Knowing him well, I would say that he was in a state of shock on receiving a response that was so direct and so strongly "No".  His immediate response was to talk about our relationship with this European Church partner in pure money terms.  I was shocked to hear even a professional relationship within the Church to be simply reduced to money. 

What about the relationships among colleagues?  What about the hard work over the years?  What about the generosity of the people in their giving?  What about all the benefits received through long years of the relationship?  What about the laughs and friendships shared?  All reduced to money.  Beyond the gracefulness and the dignity of a Thai, they can be quite ruthless when it comes to business. 

It reminds me that a dominant model of Church I experience here is that of Church doing business.  It is a harsh reality but that is the way it is.