Roger
Thirty thousand feet in the air and I find myself preparing for the inevitable mini-culture shock that is coming. Meanwhile, Brooks is engaged with her airplane neighbor in a conversation about dogs. Since I am not know for my adoration of pets, I checked out of their conversation about 45 minutes ago.
Many newspapers are open around me with headline after headline about economic woes here at home. This is what has caught my attention and has propelled me to begin reflecting on the living situations we will soon be encountering in the African culture: Day-to-day survival is the norm. Having enough food to eat for the family is not expected. Shoes for the children so that they can attend school is a significant luxury. I know it's not fair to suggest that we have no reason to worry or be concerned about our finances when compared to other parts of the world. But it does re-frame my own worries about "the future" when I am around people who are just thankful to have a dinner to serve their children tonight.
I am also reminded that, despite these hardships, I will be around people of great faith. Or, perhaps it is partly because of these hardships. They take seriously Jesus' words to "seek the kingdom of God as a first priority and all of these things [material needs] will be cared for." Inevitably I see this in action when I am around believers in Africa. They may not know where the next meal is coming from, but it does not diminish their pursuit of God and his purposes for their lives. They will reach out, disciple, care for others, and even invite neighbors to come over and share in the one meal they have scraped together. In the midst of a challenging lifestyle they often live out their faith in such tangible ways. They believe that, in doing so, Jesus will care for them for the day.
I cannot help but wonder if our own financial challenges at home won't cause us to re-look at passages such as the one just mentioned and really consider seriously what it might mean to seek the kingdom as a priority. Perhaps we too will learn that our hope is not in our government's plan or our company's fate. Perhaps we too will discover a kingdom way to walk out finances that will stand out in contrast to those around us.
Ah well. While I simply ponder these things Brooks, in her typical, friend-making fashion, has moved the conversation from pets to this woman's recent loss of her father. Brooks has already become this woman's confidant and will undoubtedly be praying with her before the flight is over. She is kingdom-advancing while I am merely musing.
We each have our part to play!
Many newspapers are open around me with headline after headline about economic woes here at home. This is what has caught my attention and has propelled me to begin reflecting on the living situations we will soon be encountering in the African culture: Day-to-day survival is the norm. Having enough food to eat for the family is not expected. Shoes for the children so that they can attend school is a significant luxury. I know it's not fair to suggest that we have no reason to worry or be concerned about our finances when compared to other parts of the world. But it does re-frame my own worries about "the future" when I am around people who are just thankful to have a dinner to serve their children tonight.
I am also reminded that, despite these hardships, I will be around people of great faith. Or, perhaps it is partly because of these hardships. They take seriously Jesus' words to "seek the kingdom of God as a first priority and all of these things [material needs] will be cared for." Inevitably I see this in action when I am around believers in Africa. They may not know where the next meal is coming from, but it does not diminish their pursuit of God and his purposes for their lives. They will reach out, disciple, care for others, and even invite neighbors to come over and share in the one meal they have scraped together. In the midst of a challenging lifestyle they often live out their faith in such tangible ways. They believe that, in doing so, Jesus will care for them for the day.
I cannot help but wonder if our own financial challenges at home won't cause us to re-look at passages such as the one just mentioned and really consider seriously what it might mean to seek the kingdom as a priority. Perhaps we too will learn that our hope is not in our government's plan or our company's fate. Perhaps we too will discover a kingdom way to walk out finances that will stand out in contrast to those around us.
Ah well. While I simply ponder these things Brooks, in her typical, friend-making fashion, has moved the conversation from pets to this woman's recent loss of her father. Brooks has already become this woman's confidant and will undoubtedly be praying with her before the flight is over. She is kingdom-advancing while I am merely musing.
We each have our part to play!
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