At the age of 20 two dramatic things happened in my life. One, my Christian service assignment was a ladies Bible study at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Two, as part of my Missions degree, I spent 6 weeks in Ivory Coast, West Africa learning to analyze cultures.
Experience number one made several impacts, the most memorable being a study where the ladies angrily and verbally attacked the group leader doing the study. Her lesson was on salvation, and they blew up when she started up about everyone being a sinner. Their questions and anger startled me. Our group leader, like me, grew up in nice Christian homes. Our clothes may not have been new and our food may not have been exquisite, but we always had clean clothes on our backs and food on our table at every meal. We had a loving environment. The same could not be said for these ladies. I wish the person in charge of service assignments had given us the first two weeks of preparation time to learn about the mission, its people, and how best to reach them. Our message was correct; our way of delivering it wasn't. I struggled long and hard that year with where I fit on the social ladder. By Bible College student standards, I was a poor church mouse. By the street ladies standards, I was wealthy.
Then my first trip overseas came. I realized regardless of what anyone in my school had or earned, the simple fact of American resources and what I had made me one of the riches people on earth. I saw poverty that I never dreamed possible. The remainder of the year I struggled with the American mindset of success, but even more, the question of why God allowed me to be born in a rich country while others who are smarter and more creative were born into poverty with no opportunities.
I'd like to say that in the last 18 years I've reached some answers and conclusions. I have a few small stones that I can stand on when such thoughts weigh me down.
Experience number one made several impacts, the most memorable being a study where the ladies angrily and verbally attacked the group leader doing the study. Her lesson was on salvation, and they blew up when she started up about everyone being a sinner. Their questions and anger startled me. Our group leader, like me, grew up in nice Christian homes. Our clothes may not have been new and our food may not have been exquisite, but we always had clean clothes on our backs and food on our table at every meal. We had a loving environment. The same could not be said for these ladies. I wish the person in charge of service assignments had given us the first two weeks of preparation time to learn about the mission, its people, and how best to reach them. Our message was correct; our way of delivering it wasn't. I struggled long and hard that year with where I fit on the social ladder. By Bible College student standards, I was a poor church mouse. By the street ladies standards, I was wealthy.
Then my first trip overseas came. I realized regardless of what anyone in my school had or earned, the simple fact of American resources and what I had made me one of the riches people on earth. I saw poverty that I never dreamed possible. The remainder of the year I struggled with the American mindset of success, but even more, the question of why God allowed me to be born in a rich country while others who are smarter and more creative were born into poverty with no opportunities.
I'd like to say that in the last 18 years I've reached some answers and conclusions. I have a few small stones that I can stand on when such thoughts weigh me down.
- My purpose on earth is to glorify Almighty God. That purpose does not change regardless of my position in life.
- Like Abraham, I'm blessed to be a blessing. I'm to share what God has given me. How to do that wisely isn't so easily answered, but the principle is a certainty.
- There's a season and a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). Just because the situation is one thing today doesn't mean it has to be that way tomorrow.
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