Interdependence

Every time I use the water faucet I think about the water delivery system that brings fresh water into my own house from a reservoir far, far away. There is an entire department of my city that takes care of the water system and makes sure that I can get clean water everyday. I am dependent on the city for water.

What kinds of city or country-wide systems do you depend upon in your native country? Do you contribute to any of those systems? In what way?

In a family, some people may work to support the family. Some people may cook for the family. Some people may take care of the finances for the family. In your family, how do you depend upon each other? When people are dependent upon each other, we say they are interdependent.

Who are some of the people you are dependent upon outside your family? How about teachers, friends, car mechanic or bus driver, and grocery store to name a few! Who are the people who are dependent upon you in some way?

Do you enjoy depending upon others? Do you enjoy having others depend upon you? Why or why not?

What is your part in the economy of your native country or of the United States? What important pieces of the economy get a lot of attention? What important pieces of the economy don’t get a lot of attention?

We use the term “dependent” for people who we support financially. We tell the U.S. government how many “dependents” we have when we file our tax returns. Do you have a similar category on tax returns in your native country?

Some people associate dependence with being weak. Independence is considered good. In your native country, how do you view the ideas of dependence, interdependence and independence? Is it possible to have too much independence? Or to be too dependent? Is it possible to have too much interdependence? Explain.

“The body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts. Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” It is still a part of the body. And suppose the ear says, “I am not an eye. So I don’t belong to the body.” It is still a part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:17-20

**** Try to apply this statement to your company, or your family, or your circle of friends. How do your differences contribute to the company, family or friendship?