I Cross Myself Because there's No Seatbelt and Other Spiritual Reflections...

I've gotten into the popular Catholic-Mexican habit of crossing myself, except instead of doing so when passing a church or holy place as many Mexican people do, I cross myself every time I get into a bus or taxi, where one is hard pressed to find a seatbelt. Taxis careen, buses zoom, passing happens wherever whenever, drivers honk instead of stop at intersections, its a wonder anyone makes it anywhere in the mess of traffic in Mexico City.  I also cross myself on the way across the street, as buses barely (and sometimes don't) stop at red lights and crosswalks.
"Thank God," I think to myself as I take a deep breath and feel grateful to have made it. I've noticed that I am used to using the phrase, "Thank God," only when something bad did NOT happen. Here in Mexico, I hear a different spirit of reverence when people use God in daily expressions. Many everyday sayings reference God.  Many people use them, whether they are particularly religious or not. "Thanks to God," expressed "Gracias a Dios," is one of the most common. If someone asks "How are you?" for example, it is not uncommon to hear, "Estoy bien, Gracias a Dios," or "I am fine, thanks to God." Sometimes when I thank someone, instead of replying "de nada" or "you're welcome," the person will reply, "Gracias a Dios." A friend was telling me that "the phrase "Gracias a Dios" is so common in Mexico that we have the saying, 'Yo soy atea, Gracias a Dios,' which means, 'I am an atheist, Thanks to God.' "
Another phrase often used to speak about miraculous or uncommon events of grace, is "Dios es tan grande que..." which means, "God is so big that..." Sometimes I hear that phrase about the size and mystery of God when others marvel at nature.
A very common reverent habit is saying, "Si Dios Permite," which means "If God permits." If I say, for example, "Hasta MaNana" "See you tomorrow," to Esther, my host, she will often add for me, "Si Dios Permite," meaning "Yes, if God permits." This phrase is a constant reminder to me to not take life for granted.
I have reflected on why expressions about God are so different in the U.S. and in Mexico. In general, I feel that my U.S. culture more commonly uses expressions with the word God in negative ways, only to say things like, "thank God I did not die in that car accident!" And in general here in Mexico, I feel "Gracias a Dios," usually carries a completely different reverence, respect, and awe.
In a recent conversation with the other YAGM, Amy, dear friend and one of the volunteers, relayed a story about a conversation at her worksite. She was at a meeting, speaking in English, with the director of her work site translating for one of her coworkers. Amy explained how in the U.S., there is a different sense about time, efficiency, and getting things done. And the director of her work site, translated her statement in a very interesting way, explaining to the Mexican woman she was with, "The U.S. is a culture of conquerors, and so are efficient and warrior-like in the way they occupy time" and "we are a culture of the conquered, which means we view time very differently."
I feel this explanation also relates perhaps to the differences in the ways of relating to God. Coming from a "culture of conquerors," there are ways that my actions are in some ways "more effective," in the sense that I have more economic possibilities, more of certain kinds of privelage, more of certain kinds of opportunites, just because I am white and from the U.S. That means that maybe I don't look as much for help to the powers outside of my control. Whereas, being from a culture of "the conquered," perhaps there is more of a reverence, a mixed up blend and fear and hope for what is out of one's control and out of one's reach.
I find myself at times deeply appreciating, at times annoyed by this all-pervading sense of a great and mysterious God. Sometimes, especially if I feel angry or don't sense the presence of God, I just want to say, "Yes, I will wake up tomorrow, whether God gives me permission or not!" This attitude comes from being part an indivilualistic culture of conquerors, and the illusion of wanting to accomplish something without any outside help.  Yet, when I reflect, that is impossible.  Many times, I feel so humbled to be able to breathe, sleep, be a part of another culture, and live, that saying "Gracias a Dios" seems the very least I could possibly do to acknowledge the mystery that has brought me here that I don't understand, and the many other people and forces of the universe which allow me to live. Gratitude, humility, a history of struggle and strength through oppresion, and awareness of the importance of relationship, are at the core of these sayings. It really is by some strange and wondrous permission that we are here, waking up again, living, breathing, and saying, its all "Gracias a Dios." How can we learn from humble hearts, using our gratitude to help us live with more care for one another and ourselves?
A gospel choir song that I used to sing at St. Olaf sings,  "Thank you for another day...For makin things okay. What was broken yesterday, is all fixed up today. I thank you for another day.....I thank you for another day." Another day to begin anew.  Here, I am learning to say, "Thank God I woke up this morning!" , "Thank God I have family, friends, and health." "Thank God I arrived back home safely," and "Por Todo, For Everything, Gracias a Dios." If God is truly the animating spirit inside of each one of us, then saying Gracias a Dios is a way to acknowledge all the people who've gone before me, all my ancestors and all people who've lived, for their contributions, inventions, inspirations, dreams, writings, discoveries, constructions, artistic creations, mistakes, failures, perseverence through loss, and movements towards peace. Gracias a Dios is a way to acknowledge all those who live now, who support me in direct and indirect ways, the people who sew my clothes, harvest the fruit I eat, drive the trucks which bring food from the farm to the city. Gracias a Dios is saying thanks the inner spirit of the people who have been and are my teachers, my friends, my family. Gracias a Dios is a way to see this big interconnected web, and recognize that we each are supported by zillions of invisible threads.  Anything that you or I accomplish, you or I have not done "by myself." The food that we ate for strength, the transportation that we drive or ride, the clothes which we wear, the support we receive from family and friends, the people who care for health, the people who have paved the way before us, all make it possible for us to just simply live and breath our lives. I will close with a quote I love by Albert Einstein which I feel reads almost like a prayer, especially, if thinking about the God inside each one of us:
"A hundred times every day, I remind myself that my inner and outer life are dependent on the labours of other [women and] men, both living and dead, and that I must exert myself, in order to give in the same measure as I have received, and still am receiving."
 ~Albert Einstein