Culture.  This word has an incredible weight to it, don't you think?

For one, everyone thinks of something different.  My brain simultaneously thinks of museums, music, cafes, and long conversations before plummeting into pondering the political movements of our time and the degradation of morals. 

What do you think of when you see the word? Do you love culture? Do you hate it? 

What is culture really? 

First, culture is the study of the arts. Determining what has value in the arts and what doesn't.  This is in part, what draws us to God.  As humans, we love beautiful things.  We love art, music, manners, and refinery, because God encompasses all of these things.  

Second, culture is a particular stage of a civilization.  The culture of the Greeks for instance was enamored with the mind, philosophy, and logic.  The culture of the Romans was a bit less so.  The American culture dives into the bottom floor like a tornado had torn off the attic completely.  If I can't touch it, it doesn't exist.  If I can't see it, then it isn't real.  This of course, is the degradation of morals that my mind thinks of in terms of culture.  Morals, as a non physical entity, are in fact contained in the higher levels of our two story house.  

Third, culture means development of the mind through education and training.  Where is this in America?

I believe that this third meaning really dives into the heart of culture.  It is in a culture that we learn about the beauty of God (art), in a culture that we impact our society (civilization), and in a culture that we develop in our understanding of both.  We simply cannot truly understand the connection between the first and second definition of culture without the development of the third. 

What's your family culture? Does your family study the arts? Does your family impact society? Does your family develop through education?  

If I could challenge you to do anything this summer, I'd challenge you to create a family culture that encompasses all three of these definitions.