I hate it when people go on mission trips and come home all “Oooh, you couldn’t possibly understand it, but we went to Abracadabra and Bibbidybobbityboo and that’s in the southeastern corner of the district of Allacazam in the country of Boolaboola (don’tcha know) and it was AMAZING! The poor people there need so much but are so full of joy! We need to help them and you should have been there!”
And those who haven’t been think, “Well, I wasn’t there.” And eyes glaze over and they think “No, I couldn’t possibly understand, and what could I do even if I did understand and you’re being a little obnoxious right now.”
All that to say that as I post from Africa I’m going to try not to do that and I pray you find these thoughts relevant for you.
There is a much repeated prayer in World Vision, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” There’s a lot that I know breaks God’s heart around the world. Obvious stuff like poverty, injustice, violence, corruption…
Whenever we travel in the developing world and we pray that prayer, our go-to response is to be sad and compassionate and prayerful about what we’re seeing. We want to know how we can partner with God to bring His kingdom to every corner of the world. And that’s a good thing mostly, I think.
But poverty isn’t just “out there” or “over there”.
It’s here too. In me. Poverty of spirit, of humility, of understanding, of awareness. Continue reading
