08/21/2026
My county in the metro Atlanta area has over 25% of foreign-born residents and more than 130 languages spoken, and this number will only continue to grow in the days and years ahead. Other major cities throughout the USA also have equal or greater diversity, with California leading the way in terms of having several of this most diverse cities throughout the country. Now, more than ever before, an understanding and appreciation for other cultures is essential for successful personal and business relationships.
Approaching one's community and the cultural elements therein requires humility, context, and a sense of history. Along these lines, the need to understand regional and cultural differences is evidenced in one my favorite books, "Confederates in the Attic" by Tony Horowitz, where the author weaves history and travel into a narrative that documents the factors that both divide and unify those within the modern South. In this book, Horowitz does an excellent job in discussing how the Civil War still impacts the modern South, and particularly how the unresolved issues related to the “Lost Cause” myth and the legacy of slavery still affect the way that we as Southerners deal with each other.
On a similar note, another book that I have found helpful in the past is "My Jesus Year" by Benyamin Cohen. In this book, Cohen travels throughout the country and attends a wide variety of churches from different religious traditions, including some here in the Atlanta area with which I am familiar, and then compares his experiences there to his background in Judaism. Unlike "Confederates in the Attic", however, where Horowitz focuses on both the negative and positive aspects of the modern South, Cohen takes a more positive and respectful approach to each of the various expressions of Christianity and how we have more in common with our neighbors than we might have otherwise thought.
Empathy, authenticity, and active listening are all traits required for understanding and interacting with the cultural changes in our local communities. One does not need to travel to another part of the world to experience a wide variety of cultures and traditions. It is here already, and our ability to adapt to and embrace change is therefore an absolute requirement for mission success on both a personal and professional level.
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