Alaskan Culture: Independence

dr suess house in talkeetna - it looks tall and precarious

Above is a photo of the Dr. Suess house in Talkeetna. The lack of building codes allowed this fascinating structure to be created, but its haphazard construction means it’s not safe to enter.

Each piece of a culture has its good and bad sides. This proverb applies to Alaska, as well. One of the distinct, and yet convoluted aspects of Alaskan culture is our independent attitude.

Freedom!

There are many positive results of this tendency, such as the fact that people are willing to think for themselves and stretch their personal limits. Many Alaskan houses are DIY instead of hiring someone else to build or fix things. Most of us are willing to learn new things and take responsibility to care for ourselves.

And the people of Alaska are ready to defend our freedoms. We don’t like government bureaucrats telling us what to do. We want to make our own decisions and face the consequences, even if we have to do it alone.

But that’s the problem with being overly independent. It means that you are always doing it alone. So if you fall down, no one is there to pick you up. It means that if you don’t study up first, the house you are DIYing might end up collapsing from the permafrost, heavy snow, or high winds. It means that you can miss out on working with other people instead of doing everything yourself. Individualism is lonely.

Interdependence

So how can we amplify the benefits and discard the problems? Well, I would argue for being independent together. It’s great to have our own perspectives, but our communities need to unify on what is most important.

These principles apply to the church as well. I have seen so many instances of folks squabbling over minor issues and dividing over mere differences of style. Instead, we need to be united around Jesus and our goal to reach our town, our state, and all of humankind with the hope of the gospel.

If you are dealing with the consequences of individualism, I would suggest being part of the change. Help others when they are in need, even if they can give you nothing in return. Give that aspiring builder advice on his house (or ask for advice if you are the aspiring builder!). Think of ways to work on projects with others instead of doing all of that work on your own.

It’s more fun to do it together. So, why not start today?

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