I realized in Ethiopia how often people focus on what they don’t have in life. I am no different. Growing up in American its part of culture to focus on what we want. Maybe it’s big like a job or a car or maybe as small as a new pair of shoes. Either way, most of us live wanting the next thing. Sometimes we obsess over it in our minds. And if we don’t have it we just don’t feel satisfied. It may not even be a specific material thing. Sometimes we are just not satisfied with our comfort level and want a more comfortable life, whatever that entails.
I really began to see this as soon as I flew into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I immediately wanted all that I used to have in America: familiar food, good friends, and a warm comfortable bed. The list goes on. While those are all good things to an extent, I know I don’t really “need” them. In fact when I began to make visits out in the field in Ethiopia, I had even less. When I was out in the field I wanted to be in Addis. I began to focus on the comforts which I had in Addis. I wanted a warm cup of coffee and bagel, I wanted that rock-hard but warm bed, and people that I got to know at the office. I realized there was a trend. People want what they don’t have. It’s human nature. And I think because of this, we are rarely satisfied with where we are and what we have. Why? I think we are not satisfied because we focus on the wrong things.
I keep running into people in Ethiopia who have so little, yet still satisfied with life. I went to a school earlier this week where most kids had to walk miles to get to and then cross a lake. Not to mention many of the kids had to swim in order to cross the lake to get school. In reality they may not know that their life is much harder than mine. But then again, they might not even care. Most of them are not the kind of people to focus on what they don’t have. When the interns and i made it to the school, the kids were so happy to see us that they sang for us. They were so happy to be there. Its the same for many Ethiopians out in the country who have to walk miles and cross rivers just to get to school or a clinic or work. Yet there is little complaining about it. It’s just the way things are. I have seen kids playing in the streets with flat soccer balls, yet they are just as happy (if not more happy) than kids I see playing in the US. And the kids are not complaining because their shoes are not the newest. Many don’t even think to complain that they eat the same meal three times a day. It’s the way things are. In fact, I think they are satisfied with the simplicity of it all. And that may be the key. It’s the simplicity that leads to satisfaction.
I think it’s what we focus on that determines if we live simple and satisfied lives. When I say simple I don’t mean that you only do one thing every day. I only mean that you focus on the most important things. It’s like the human eye. We can see lots around us all the time, but we only can focus on one thing. Depending on what we focus on determines what we think about. And really we can only be focusing on one thing at a time so that thing becomes the primary object and everything else is secondary. It’s the same spiritually. It’s this kind of focus that leads to simplicity.
What I mean is that I think at the deepest level, we think about what our hearts focus on. And often that focus can consume our minds. If we focus on what we don’t have, it can really distract us from enjoying life. Take, for example, the American rock star who seems to have it all but is still not satisfied because he always wants more. This wishing and lack of satisfaction stops us from living in the moment and enjoying life. Lots of people spend their lives focusing temporary and sometimes unattainable things; for some its money, power, and fame. For others it’s just getting through the day or finding the perfect husband or wife. Whatever that one thing is, it will draw our attention and hearts toward it.
I am learning that the only thing worth focusing on is Jesus. He is the only thing I really need anyway, so it makes sense to put Him first. I believe God wants us to focus on Him despite the distracting things in this world that can turn our attention.
If you really think about it, what is it that you really need? Like I was learning earlier, good food and friends and comfort are good things. But I don’t really need them. All I really need is God. It’s that simple. Since we are drawn to what we focus on, focusing on what we don’t have will never satisfy. But if we focus on what never goes away and we will always have (Christ), we will always be satisfied.
Now I am not saying that it is wrong to have other things and enjoy what we have. But I am saying that the goal of our lives should not be to focus on those things. I am also not saying that I have figured all of this out either. I am still learning. But I think that everything secondary in life, instead of being our focus, should help us concentrate our attention on the most beautiful and satisfying thing in our spiritual eyes, Jesus.
Focusing on Jesus has left me so much more satisfied in the place where I am at. It makes life so much simpler to just focus on Him. I don’t have to worry about my future, my safety, what I am going to eat, where I am going to sleep, or anything else. While those will always be things that are a part of my life, they will never be more important that God. The more I have been away, the more I am learning to just enjoy God and who He is. And I think the more we allow Him to be the primary focus of our lives, everything else that vies for our attention will fade to the side. Like in a race, we draw near to what we focus on. (Hopefully it’s the finish line for most people). Therefore when we focus on Christ we drawn near to him. And the Bible says that when we draw near to Him, God draws near to us (James 4:8).
Its this kind of simplicity that is a wonderful thing. Because when everything else is changing around is at a million miles an hour, one thing will always remain the same: Christ Jesus. Hebrews 13 says that Jesus never changes. He is always the same. He is the most predictable bet when we need someone to rely on. That’s why it makes sense to fix our thoughts, minds, and lives on He who does not change.
So here is what I want to say. I know from experience that life can be crazy. Africa especially is a very unpredictable place to be. I realize that every day that passes. But my life becomes so much more simple and satisfied when my focus is on Christ. There are a lot of things I could focus on, like what I don’t have and what I miss from the States. But focusing on that will never satisfy me (because those are circumstantial things). But when I focus on what I really need and want (God) I am completely satisfied, because He promises to always be there!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Culture and Jesus
This past week was training on Ethiopian culture and language. The other interns and I were able to learn about the many people groups that live in Ethiopia (over 70). Many of these people have their own language and subcultures, but for the most part Ethiopia has a core culture. We learned about the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as a unique church just in Ethiopia (if you could not guess from the name). I was able to learn basic language skills so I can greet people and ask where things are and shop in the market.
Ethiopians in general have a unique culture that has both African and Arabic influence. Recent rulers actually did not consider Ethiopia as even part of Africa. The history of Ethiopia goes back thousands of years. They are a proud people, rich in culture that is very unique. They have a unique language which has similarities to Arabic. Their food is also unique with injera and rich spices. Not to mention their own Orthodox Church. The Bible actually refers to Ethiopians in several passages. In the New Testament, Philip helps explain the Gospel to an Ethiopian. He is one of the first followers of Jesus from the African continent. The Old Testament even refers to Ethiopians and there are several prophecies about the Cushite people (mostly Ethiopians).
It is amazing what learning about another culture will teach you. It’s hard to even imagine the variety of lifestyles and ideas and customs that are out there until you experience it. We grow up thinking there is only one way to see the world. There is only one way to eat food, relate to people, go about business, and live life. But of course there are thousands of ways, we just don’t know about all of them. With the language and culture orientation, I was able to see the world through a very different perspective. It is hard to see the world through a completely different lens growing up in America. We have people from all around the world come to America, but for the most part we are very ignorant of other cultures. In fact many think American culture is “the culture”. If a culture does not look like ours it is wrong. Some Christians would even call other cultures as “pagan”. But I think God has a very different view of culture.
God created culture. Genesis refers to this event as the tower of Babel. Gods plan was for people to multiply and spread throughout the earth. Well some people in Genesis did not want to do this. So God “helped” them in this process by creating many different languages. Culture is not a bad thing. God made different cultures. It is a beautiful thing. He created culture to reflect the diversity of humanity and human potential. In this way, culture reflects different attributes and characteristics of God. Seeing another culture, like Ethiopia, is a way to see God in a different way.
Of course being immersed in a culture completely different than your own is not easy. It is a hard transition for just about anyone. Why? Because it’s different! You cannot prepare for another culture because each is different and unique for a reason. It’s a different way of seeing and living life. I learned that culture is like an onion. It has layers. The deeper you go the more immersed you go. At first you just see what’s on the surface of a culture, maybe the food and clothes. Then you begin to see beneath the physical and begin to understand their core beliefs and values and ultimately their worldview. What makes them do what they do? At each level, like an onion, you will encounter something that will be uncomfortable and make you cry (maybe not literally, but I hope you get the point). It sounds cheesy but it’s true. Each culture is so unique and different. The more you get into a culture, the more you will feel uncomfortable because it will be differences than what you are used to. There is no avoiding it. But that uncomfortableness does go away over time. Humans are much more capable and adaptable than we may think.
One thing that made me uncomfortable at first was the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC). Behind the house I am staying is a view of a huge Orthodox Church, which looks a more like a mosque. And every morning with little exception the speakers blast loudly at 5am. I am not sure what they are saying on the speakers, but it kind of sounds like a call to prayer. For me, coming from a more evangelical background, I immediately raised objections to the Orthodox Church. From the outside I saw that they abstained from eating certain meat, they go to church sometimes as a daily routine, and they are very conservative in rules that they have, clothes they wear, and lives they live. But the more I learned, I realized that many of them have placed their utmost faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. They trust that because of the death and resurrection of Christ, they have salvation from God. Yes, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are different, but God is clear about what He requires to follow Him. John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” That is salvation. It is as simple as that. However, somewhere in the American Church we add stipulations to follow Jesus. We say you must also believe this and that. God is very clear on what kind of faith it takes to have eternal life: to know the true God and Jesus Christ.
Now I am not saying that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is perfect. And I am not saying everyone in the church knows Jesus Christ. Like many churches in the US people come and go and miss the point of actually knowing God. It is a church that has its flaws like any church. But I think overall, those of us who claim to follow Jesus need to be much more willing to accept those with different ways of living out their faith. We need to focus more on our similarities much more than we focus, argue, and debate on the differences. Yes, some believe in predestination, some more in free will. Some believe in infant baptism and some do not. And honestly some people believe things that are just not biblical. But that should be a secondary concern. No one is perfect. Not one has perfect theology. The point is that those of us who follow Jesus Christ need to encourage a church that is united. We need to come together under the authority of Jesus and stop arguing about matters that are just simple not as important. God sent Jesus Christ to be the Savior of this world! That is where our faith needs to rest. All other facts are secondary.
In the USA, so much of the view we have created of Jesus is cultural. We have limited Jesus to a person that we can understand. We assume that in American we alone reflect how Jesus would have acted and spoke and lived life. We have put God in a box. We have limited our knowledge of God to our culture. Many American Christians would say that Jesus would be a Republican. He would probably drive a truck and attend a huge mega church. Tell that to the street beggars in Addis Ababa who have faith in God despite having nothing material in this world. Tell that to the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
Many times when we tell people from other cultures about Jesus, we push them to reflect the American church. We go to churches all over the world and tell them to be more like our churches. “Get more structure” we say. Or “you have too much structure”, “you need more money”, “you need to look more like this”, or “your church needs to be bigger”. I think this is foolish. Our goal should not be to create an American church all over the world. As believers we need to tell people of the love of Christ and the beautiful truth of the gospel. Let God transform people from different cultures into His image in His way, in His time. Our responsibility is simply this: to present Jesus and the one true God. The work of the Holy Spirit will transform people from every culture into the image of God in His way according to every tongue, tribe, and nation. Paul said when he was witnessing to the Corinthians, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.
What i want to say is that differences are a good thing. Of course no culture is perfect just as no church is perfect. every culture has parts that are sinful and do not reflect God. every culture has been effected by sin. but in the big picture, God created different cultures, and God allows people to see Him and experience Him in different ways. How boring it would be if we all experienced and saw God in the same way. Personally, I think I can learn a lot from many Christians here such as the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. I really admire and respect the amount of reverence they have for God. They way they approach God is really beautiful. They understand well that God is far above them and that we as humans really have nothing to offer God but our obedience. As American Christians, sometimes we come before God so flippantly. Yes, we can approach God freely because of Christ, but I think we have forgotten a certain amount of fear that we need in approaching God. We should never forget how far above us He is. Sometimes we act as if we deserve God and His grace. We don’t. I want the kind of reverence they have. And not to mention how much reverence they show the Word of God. People do not throw Bibles in their back pockets and sit on them. They carry Bibles as if it is one of the most precious gifts we have from God (and it is).
All to say there is a reason why God made people different and unique in variosu cultures around the world. It helps us see life in a much bigger picture. More than that it helps us see God as more creative and huge. The cool thing is that God is above culture. He understands all culture. And when Jesus comes back, he will finally unify his body (the church) under his authority. That is why the New Testament is so clear about preaching to every tongue, tribe, and nation. Our role is not to make believers look the same and act the same. We need to just point people to Christ. He is the heard of the church and alone has the authority to unify (Colossians 1:18). When Christ does return, Jesus will bring together all believers from every culture to more completely reflect the image of God. It is really a beautiful thing.
Ethiopians in general have a unique culture that has both African and Arabic influence. Recent rulers actually did not consider Ethiopia as even part of Africa. The history of Ethiopia goes back thousands of years. They are a proud people, rich in culture that is very unique. They have a unique language which has similarities to Arabic. Their food is also unique with injera and rich spices. Not to mention their own Orthodox Church. The Bible actually refers to Ethiopians in several passages. In the New Testament, Philip helps explain the Gospel to an Ethiopian. He is one of the first followers of Jesus from the African continent. The Old Testament even refers to Ethiopians and there are several prophecies about the Cushite people (mostly Ethiopians).
It is amazing what learning about another culture will teach you. It’s hard to even imagine the variety of lifestyles and ideas and customs that are out there until you experience it. We grow up thinking there is only one way to see the world. There is only one way to eat food, relate to people, go about business, and live life. But of course there are thousands of ways, we just don’t know about all of them. With the language and culture orientation, I was able to see the world through a very different perspective. It is hard to see the world through a completely different lens growing up in America. We have people from all around the world come to America, but for the most part we are very ignorant of other cultures. In fact many think American culture is “the culture”. If a culture does not look like ours it is wrong. Some Christians would even call other cultures as “pagan”. But I think God has a very different view of culture.
God created culture. Genesis refers to this event as the tower of Babel. Gods plan was for people to multiply and spread throughout the earth. Well some people in Genesis did not want to do this. So God “helped” them in this process by creating many different languages. Culture is not a bad thing. God made different cultures. It is a beautiful thing. He created culture to reflect the diversity of humanity and human potential. In this way, culture reflects different attributes and characteristics of God. Seeing another culture, like Ethiopia, is a way to see God in a different way.
Of course being immersed in a culture completely different than your own is not easy. It is a hard transition for just about anyone. Why? Because it’s different! You cannot prepare for another culture because each is different and unique for a reason. It’s a different way of seeing and living life. I learned that culture is like an onion. It has layers. The deeper you go the more immersed you go. At first you just see what’s on the surface of a culture, maybe the food and clothes. Then you begin to see beneath the physical and begin to understand their core beliefs and values and ultimately their worldview. What makes them do what they do? At each level, like an onion, you will encounter something that will be uncomfortable and make you cry (maybe not literally, but I hope you get the point). It sounds cheesy but it’s true. Each culture is so unique and different. The more you get into a culture, the more you will feel uncomfortable because it will be differences than what you are used to. There is no avoiding it. But that uncomfortableness does go away over time. Humans are much more capable and adaptable than we may think.
One thing that made me uncomfortable at first was the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC). Behind the house I am staying is a view of a huge Orthodox Church, which looks a more like a mosque. And every morning with little exception the speakers blast loudly at 5am. I am not sure what they are saying on the speakers, but it kind of sounds like a call to prayer. For me, coming from a more evangelical background, I immediately raised objections to the Orthodox Church. From the outside I saw that they abstained from eating certain meat, they go to church sometimes as a daily routine, and they are very conservative in rules that they have, clothes they wear, and lives they live. But the more I learned, I realized that many of them have placed their utmost faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. They trust that because of the death and resurrection of Christ, they have salvation from God. Yes, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are different, but God is clear about what He requires to follow Him. John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” That is salvation. It is as simple as that. However, somewhere in the American Church we add stipulations to follow Jesus. We say you must also believe this and that. God is very clear on what kind of faith it takes to have eternal life: to know the true God and Jesus Christ.
Now I am not saying that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is perfect. And I am not saying everyone in the church knows Jesus Christ. Like many churches in the US people come and go and miss the point of actually knowing God. It is a church that has its flaws like any church. But I think overall, those of us who claim to follow Jesus need to be much more willing to accept those with different ways of living out their faith. We need to focus more on our similarities much more than we focus, argue, and debate on the differences. Yes, some believe in predestination, some more in free will. Some believe in infant baptism and some do not. And honestly some people believe things that are just not biblical. But that should be a secondary concern. No one is perfect. Not one has perfect theology. The point is that those of us who follow Jesus Christ need to encourage a church that is united. We need to come together under the authority of Jesus and stop arguing about matters that are just simple not as important. God sent Jesus Christ to be the Savior of this world! That is where our faith needs to rest. All other facts are secondary.
In the USA, so much of the view we have created of Jesus is cultural. We have limited Jesus to a person that we can understand. We assume that in American we alone reflect how Jesus would have acted and spoke and lived life. We have put God in a box. We have limited our knowledge of God to our culture. Many American Christians would say that Jesus would be a Republican. He would probably drive a truck and attend a huge mega church. Tell that to the street beggars in Addis Ababa who have faith in God despite having nothing material in this world. Tell that to the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
Many times when we tell people from other cultures about Jesus, we push them to reflect the American church. We go to churches all over the world and tell them to be more like our churches. “Get more structure” we say. Or “you have too much structure”, “you need more money”, “you need to look more like this”, or “your church needs to be bigger”. I think this is foolish. Our goal should not be to create an American church all over the world. As believers we need to tell people of the love of Christ and the beautiful truth of the gospel. Let God transform people from different cultures into His image in His way, in His time. Our responsibility is simply this: to present Jesus and the one true God. The work of the Holy Spirit will transform people from every culture into the image of God in His way according to every tongue, tribe, and nation. Paul said when he was witnessing to the Corinthians, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.
What i want to say is that differences are a good thing. Of course no culture is perfect just as no church is perfect. every culture has parts that are sinful and do not reflect God. every culture has been effected by sin. but in the big picture, God created different cultures, and God allows people to see Him and experience Him in different ways. How boring it would be if we all experienced and saw God in the same way. Personally, I think I can learn a lot from many Christians here such as the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. I really admire and respect the amount of reverence they have for God. They way they approach God is really beautiful. They understand well that God is far above them and that we as humans really have nothing to offer God but our obedience. As American Christians, sometimes we come before God so flippantly. Yes, we can approach God freely because of Christ, but I think we have forgotten a certain amount of fear that we need in approaching God. We should never forget how far above us He is. Sometimes we act as if we deserve God and His grace. We don’t. I want the kind of reverence they have. And not to mention how much reverence they show the Word of God. People do not throw Bibles in their back pockets and sit on them. They carry Bibles as if it is one of the most precious gifts we have from God (and it is).
All to say there is a reason why God made people different and unique in variosu cultures around the world. It helps us see life in a much bigger picture. More than that it helps us see God as more creative and huge. The cool thing is that God is above culture. He understands all culture. And when Jesus comes back, he will finally unify his body (the church) under his authority. That is why the New Testament is so clear about preaching to every tongue, tribe, and nation. Our role is not to make believers look the same and act the same. We need to just point people to Christ. He is the heard of the church and alone has the authority to unify (Colossians 1:18). When Christ does return, Jesus will bring together all believers from every culture to more completely reflect the image of God. It is really a beautiful thing.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Making Changes
I made it to Ethiopia! Getting here was about two seven hour plane rides and a 12 hour layover in London (it could have been worse). The first thing when i got here (Addis Ababa) was checking into the guest house where I will be in and out of the whole summer. In African standards it is a really nice house with a kitchen, four bedrooms, several bathrooms and a living room with a TV. I have also been at the office the last few days getting oriented and meeting the staff. The staff here is great. It has just been tough learning the names of everyone, especially the national staff whose names are much different than the average American name. As far as what I am doing, the first month I will be touring around with the other interns to see the various projects around the country. There are a wide variety of projects ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention in the city to water and food distribution projects in the country. After the first month I will be spending most of my time in the southern region. I still am not sure of the specifics of what I will be doing. I just know I will get to be very involved with the projects down there. Most of them revolve around getting people food and water.
For now I am in Addis Ababa, the capital. It has lots of stores and shops and restaurants like any city, but there is no question I am in a developing country much different than America. Many buildings are run down, the streets are not marked, and it does not take long to see people in poverty literally laying on the side of the street begging for money. Many are blind or cripple. Children, many homeless or orphaned, are eager to beg foreigners for money. The culture here is beautiful but incredibly different too. It is very unique and unlike any other in the world. It is part Arabic and part African. In general Ethiopians are very proud of their heritage and history. They have many traditions and practices that will take me a long time to understand. Their clothing, language, customs, and food are very different. They love coffee (not unlike addicted Starbucks Americans) and claim to be the creators of it. For some, every morning or for certain circumstances, they perform a coffee ceremony including brewing fresh coffee and pouring three cups. The food is very different too. The main dish usually involves injera, which is like sour spongy pancake type bread. You typically sit around with the other people and eat food communally. You grab a piece of the injera and use it as your utensil to pick up the food placed in the middle to eat. Basically you eat with your hands (every child’s dream). Meat and lentils other spiced foods are placed in the middle for people to share and pick up with the injera in hand.
If I have learned anything it is that change is a good thing (even if it feels way outside my comfort zone at first). I am in a completely different culture with people I have never met for more than a week. In the past I have usually at least known someone closely when I have travelled or worked. Now it’s just me and strangers, soon to be friends I hope. But the point is that it seems uncomfortable for a little at the beginning, and a bit lonely. But that uncomfortableness and change is a good thing. It means I am being stretched and changed. When left on my own, I am prone to stick to routines and what is comfortable. Those are good things to an extent, but it means I might miss out on all the adventures life has in store for me. I am learning that when I am far out where I have never been before, even alone, my view of life and my purpose and God is expanded. That is a wonderful thing.
Jesus said that he came to give us life to the fullest (John 10:10). I believe that with all my heart. I don’t think there is a single person in the world that does not want that. Everyone wants life to the fullest, it’s just that most people don’t look to Christ to have it. Or they do not choose to follow God when He calls them somewhere else. Jesus also said that anyone who wants to follow him must be willing to give up everything (Luke 14:33). Those two statements are not contradictory when viewed in the right perspective. Why? Because life to the fullest is a life lived with God. Life to the fullest is not so much an ends but a process of going through life with God. It is a process of ups and downs and it begins with Him living inside us. The excitement and liberation comes from living life with God, walking with Him, and talking with Him. It certainly is not based on circumstances because a life with God involves giving up the temporary things in this world and trading them for His plans and eternal things. There is another problem though. Its hard for us to see His plans or eternal things unless He breaks us free from that which ties us to the world. This is a difficult process that involves change, growing up, moving on from the past, and looking forward to the new things God has planned for us.
God is a God of excitement and change. While He never changes, because He is perfect (Hebrews 13:8), the way He grows us and teaches us is through change. Change helps grow us up physically and mentally and closer to Him. This is an exciting process because it means breaking free of past addictions, idols, and comforts. When we pray for adventure and freedom and life to the fullest He gives it to us. However, it often does not come in the way we expect. We would like it to come in the form of some sort of comfortable bliss that lasts forever. Some sort of lifestyle or event that makes us feel brave and bold and on top of the world all the time. That is not realistic. We as humans are broken, scared, and prone to mediocrity. Therefore the path to life to the fullest and growing closer to God often takes the form change, moving on, and uncomfortable and sometimes overwhelming new circumstances.
There are two verses pertaining to this that God put on my mind lately that have brought me a lot of peace about change. The first is Isaiah 43:19. It says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Not it springs up’ do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”. Basically saying that God always wants to move us forward. He paves a way for us through the tough times (the desert) to lead us to new places. New places and new experiences, even when they can be tough, are the avenue God uses to live a life to the fullest. AKA get us where He wants us and bring us closer to Himself. When you think about living a life with God it really is God teaching us new ways to trust Him through different circumstances and situations. Our role is to not dwell in the past but be hopeful of the future and move on to the new place God calls us. It can be scary but there is hope and peace in Christ. The second verse is one of comfort. Isaiah 48:17 says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” That is the Lord saying that he knows and teaches us what is best for us. He does this by directing our lives. He knows what is best and we should trust Him in that. Therefore the best thing for us is to just listen and obey. Verse 18 goes on to say that “if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea”. We will never regret living a life trusting in God and His plan because he gives peace (despite our circumstances) and righteousness (another way of saying a right and good relationship with God) for those who listen to Him. That often means following Him into new places and uncharted waters. But that is life to the fullest!
For now I am in Addis Ababa, the capital. It has lots of stores and shops and restaurants like any city, but there is no question I am in a developing country much different than America. Many buildings are run down, the streets are not marked, and it does not take long to see people in poverty literally laying on the side of the street begging for money. Many are blind or cripple. Children, many homeless or orphaned, are eager to beg foreigners for money. The culture here is beautiful but incredibly different too. It is very unique and unlike any other in the world. It is part Arabic and part African. In general Ethiopians are very proud of their heritage and history. They have many traditions and practices that will take me a long time to understand. Their clothing, language, customs, and food are very different. They love coffee (not unlike addicted Starbucks Americans) and claim to be the creators of it. For some, every morning or for certain circumstances, they perform a coffee ceremony including brewing fresh coffee and pouring three cups. The food is very different too. The main dish usually involves injera, which is like sour spongy pancake type bread. You typically sit around with the other people and eat food communally. You grab a piece of the injera and use it as your utensil to pick up the food placed in the middle to eat. Basically you eat with your hands (every child’s dream). Meat and lentils other spiced foods are placed in the middle for people to share and pick up with the injera in hand.
If I have learned anything it is that change is a good thing (even if it feels way outside my comfort zone at first). I am in a completely different culture with people I have never met for more than a week. In the past I have usually at least known someone closely when I have travelled or worked. Now it’s just me and strangers, soon to be friends I hope. But the point is that it seems uncomfortable for a little at the beginning, and a bit lonely. But that uncomfortableness and change is a good thing. It means I am being stretched and changed. When left on my own, I am prone to stick to routines and what is comfortable. Those are good things to an extent, but it means I might miss out on all the adventures life has in store for me. I am learning that when I am far out where I have never been before, even alone, my view of life and my purpose and God is expanded. That is a wonderful thing.
Jesus said that he came to give us life to the fullest (John 10:10). I believe that with all my heart. I don’t think there is a single person in the world that does not want that. Everyone wants life to the fullest, it’s just that most people don’t look to Christ to have it. Or they do not choose to follow God when He calls them somewhere else. Jesus also said that anyone who wants to follow him must be willing to give up everything (Luke 14:33). Those two statements are not contradictory when viewed in the right perspective. Why? Because life to the fullest is a life lived with God. Life to the fullest is not so much an ends but a process of going through life with God. It is a process of ups and downs and it begins with Him living inside us. The excitement and liberation comes from living life with God, walking with Him, and talking with Him. It certainly is not based on circumstances because a life with God involves giving up the temporary things in this world and trading them for His plans and eternal things. There is another problem though. Its hard for us to see His plans or eternal things unless He breaks us free from that which ties us to the world. This is a difficult process that involves change, growing up, moving on from the past, and looking forward to the new things God has planned for us.
God is a God of excitement and change. While He never changes, because He is perfect (Hebrews 13:8), the way He grows us and teaches us is through change. Change helps grow us up physically and mentally and closer to Him. This is an exciting process because it means breaking free of past addictions, idols, and comforts. When we pray for adventure and freedom and life to the fullest He gives it to us. However, it often does not come in the way we expect. We would like it to come in the form of some sort of comfortable bliss that lasts forever. Some sort of lifestyle or event that makes us feel brave and bold and on top of the world all the time. That is not realistic. We as humans are broken, scared, and prone to mediocrity. Therefore the path to life to the fullest and growing closer to God often takes the form change, moving on, and uncomfortable and sometimes overwhelming new circumstances.
There are two verses pertaining to this that God put on my mind lately that have brought me a lot of peace about change. The first is Isaiah 43:19. It says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Not it springs up’ do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”. Basically saying that God always wants to move us forward. He paves a way for us through the tough times (the desert) to lead us to new places. New places and new experiences, even when they can be tough, are the avenue God uses to live a life to the fullest. AKA get us where He wants us and bring us closer to Himself. When you think about living a life with God it really is God teaching us new ways to trust Him through different circumstances and situations. Our role is to not dwell in the past but be hopeful of the future and move on to the new place God calls us. It can be scary but there is hope and peace in Christ. The second verse is one of comfort. Isaiah 48:17 says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” That is the Lord saying that he knows and teaches us what is best for us. He does this by directing our lives. He knows what is best and we should trust Him in that. Therefore the best thing for us is to just listen and obey. Verse 18 goes on to say that “if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea”. We will never regret living a life trusting in God and His plan because he gives peace (despite our circumstances) and righteousness (another way of saying a right and good relationship with God) for those who listen to Him. That often means following Him into new places and uncharted waters. But that is life to the fullest!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Hello!
I recently graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Public and Urban Affairs. I concentrated in Global Development and minored in International Studies. Soon I will be doing an internship with Samaritan’s Purse for five months in Ethiopia helping with relief and development work. After a week of training, I will be flying out on June 19th. I am excited to follow the Lord overseas right now and serve Him wherever He may call me after. I will use this blog to share what I am doing and what God is teaching me. I would like to ask for you prayer but more importantly please pray for the lost and broken of this world. I know Gods heart is with them.
Psalm 140:12 “I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”
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