i've been doing a lot of thinking.
we talk about coming back to our western culture and coming back to our 'routines.' there is talk of not letting ourselves slip back into them, whatever they may be.
how do we live life after coming back from a missional experience, such as africa, and not go back into our routines?
the fact is, how we live life in north america is how we live life. when I first came home, I almost felt bad for using the tap to get water, for buying groceries and for even using my computer.
we are blessed people. is it wrong to use these blessings? I can't see that God would think so.
but the problems come when we get selfish.
it is such a simple truth that we hear all the time, but is so hard to do.
Africa taught me many things, but this sticks out the most and is hitting home the hardest these days:
God wants us to have the mentality of "what's mine is yours." Give abundantly, recieve abundantly.
hopefully you guys enjoyed some of those pictures.
4 comments:
Hi Ty,
Some deep thinking there, and so eloquently stated.
We should not feel guilty of our blessings except of those we have obtained through the sufferings and dehumanization of others.
How much of our "good" life was/is made possible through victimization of the third world and the exploitation of the natural resources of these undeveloped countries?
If the blessings we enjoy are a result of our hard work, resourcefulness and fair dealings then there is no need to feel guilty. If not, then there is need to reverse our selfish tendencies and restore the balance.
tyler,
of course its not wrong to use the blessings we have. We are fortunate to live in a wealthly country where we are blessed with many things that people in some countries don't have. What i was trying to say last time is that we shouldnt take what we have and what we're blessed with for granted. Since we are blessed with wealth we should bless it upon other people that don't have anything. We can't change the fact that we were born in a wealthly country and african children were born in a third world country. It could have easily been us born there. We can't change were we've come from but we can change where we're going and what we do.
And about slipping back into routines. For me before i left for Africa, I was living a very selfish lifestyle and I took what i had for granted. But then going to Africa made me see the big picture and made me realize that I was so blessed to live the life that I lived. And so coming back home I just didnt want to go back to taking everything i had for granted. And i just wanted to be conscious about not buying unecessary things that I didnt truthfully need, when i had met kids who didnt even have anything to eat. Know what I mean? And also I just don't want you to forget the feelings that you've been having. Cause you may be passionate about it now but after being back awhile it kind of fades and so I just don't want you to forget what you've seen and the experiences you've had. I know you won't but its easy to push it to the back of your mind and not think about it.
I read this entry, and the two related comments, yesterday but I just can't get them out of my mind. So I hope I don't offend anybody, but here's my 2 cents:
Are we a blessed nation? I don't think so. North America came to it's position primarily through sinful means that have openly taken advantage of other countries and groups of people. We are certainly not a God-focussed nation, and I can't imagine Him seeing us as "blessed".
It seems to me that Satan is perpetuating the lie by getting us to buy into the "you can't help it" mentality. Sure, we can't help being born in Canada. But we can help it when it comes to material possessions and attitudes. Just because I live here doesn't mean I have to buy a stupidly expensive house. Doesn't mean I have to work so much I have no time to serve. Doesn't mean I have to save for retirement. Doesn't mean I have to provide my kids with lessons & activities of every sort. Doesn't mean I have to be outwardly successful. Doesn't mean I have to live the "canadian dream".
Remember the scripture that says we are to live "in the world, but not of the world".
If I am going to live a "blessed" life, what does that look like? I think it looks alot like what we saw in Ntinkalu. Trusting God to provide. Not blaming Him when we are down. Giving Him the glory for each & every victory or gift in our lives. Sharing with others when we receive more than we need today, even if we're not sure we'll have enough tomorrow. Being excited and enthusiastic to worship and praise & learn.
Maybe I just need to distinguish my needs from wants. I need a home to keep me warm in the winter, not a huge fancy one. I need to eat healthy, not steak three times a week and not at restaurants. I need transportation, not a new car or maybe not a car at all. I need clothes, only to keep me warm and modest. I need education, not all at once with huge student loans. I need friends & family, not expensive vacations with them or to see them.
If we simplified our lives we might find we draw closer to God and have more resources and motivation to help others.
I too am worried that I will just fall into old routines, or that I will push these thoughts out of my mind. That's why I'm sharing my thoughts with you - to solidify them in my mind and hopefully to hold me accountable for my future actions.
i just read all this, and have been mulling it through ever since, so i also am going to put my say in.
firstly, i want to say that i believe we are a 'blessed' nation. blessed that we have food to eat everyday. blessed that we can go to five taps in our house, and have water clean enough to drink every time. blessed that we have access to any kind of medicine or health care that we may ever have the need for. blessed that we don't have to fear for children being recruited to become child soldiers. blessed that aren't always in fear for our lives. blessed that education is available for all. blessed that a tiny virus isn't waging war on our continent and tearing apart families and communities. and i could go on.
sure, we have some dark spots on our history. but who doesn't? and if in order to be 'blessed' we must be a god-focused nation, then sadly i don't think any nation could be considered blessed.
what is not good though is when such blessings become a distraction. or we horde them for ourselves. i don't think there's anything wrong with appreciating our blessings here, as long as we appreciate them in moderation, and are willing to share them with others.
for instance, do i beat myself up for getting a good education and racking up huge student loans on my way to becoming an optometrist? no, instead i work as hard as i can to finish that off, so that i can return to africa (or some other place) one day and share my knowledge and skills with those there that need it.
having been to africa three times myself, i do agree though that in other ways, they live a much more beautiful and simple life than we do. and i yearn to live my life with the same simplicity, joy, and faith that they do. i know that is a large part of the reason why i am continually drawn there. it is just such a beautiful place, filled with such hope and potential.
in closing, coming back from africa, we can't distance ourselves from our culture, shutting everyone and everything out in protest to the inequalities that exist in the world and that we have seen firsthand. as much as our culture is far off the mark to where i would like it to be, it is where i am right now. and it's where i am for the time being, unless i could up and move to africa this instant (which i would probably do if i had the opportunity). we can't point the finger at everyone else, blaming them for the way the world is. rather, we must make a change within ourself and then live life as a changed person. as someone who chooses to be different. to go against the flow. and to use what we have been blessed with to be a blessing to others.
(sorry this is so long ty, i just feel like i needed to get my opinion in there too. hope all is well in oklahoma.)
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