"Is he going to lead us in all the verses? "
"They’re not gonna come. "
"Why don’t they come?"
There are people standing in this building right now who should be walking down that aisle and I ponder.. “Why aren’t they coming?”
Why should they? They live in the U.S. They have everything. What less do we expect?
Totally switch countries, cultures, and churches for a moment. You are in Highgate, Jamaica. As the Gospel invitation song is lead, and the roaring shout from the preacher echoes his sermon to encourage the last straggler, one comes down the aisle. Most of the time, many come down the aisle.
"They’re not gonna come. "
"Why don’t they come?"
There are people standing in this building right now who should be walking down that aisle and I ponder.. “Why aren’t they coming?”
Why should they? They live in the U.S. They have everything. What less do we expect?
Totally switch countries, cultures, and churches for a moment. You are in Highgate, Jamaica. As the Gospel invitation song is lead, and the roaring shout from the preacher echoes his sermon to encourage the last straggler, one comes down the aisle. Most of the time, many come down the aisle.
Why is it then, at home, when a lost soul comes down the aisle, it is so infrequent it puts us at a loss of what to do? Americans are spoiled. Myself included. We have too much. And then we complain about what we have. As I was sitting in church, I was listening to what was actually a really good lesson. But my mind began to wonder… I am really sleepy this morning… I am looking forward to taking a Sunday afternoon nap…I wonder what’s for lunch?
Then I suddenly remember what my Jamaican friends endure because of their eagerness to hear God’s Word. They walk long mountainous trails in their heels and their best Sunday dress to get to the church building. They sit on rock-hard wooden pews with no cushions, for at least two hours during the Sunday morning worship, excluding Bible class. Did I mention there is no air conditioning? Then, they have to walk back home with no expectation of a plentiful Sunday lunch.
They are some of the happiest people I have ever seen. And here I am, sitting in a cold air-conditioned building, with pews so soft I could take my nap, listening to a short 25 minute lesson. I forgot to mention, I rode to church in a spacious suburban. And I was complaining.
After six mission trips to Jamaica, I am finally seeing the light. Well, sort of. I have been given so much, but at times I am selfishly unhappy. The Jamaicans have been given very little in our eyes, but most times they are incredibly happy.
Why have I gotten it all wrong? Why am I just now beginning to start to see it? Why do I refuse to count my possessions and chose to beg for more? God has given me these possessions. Without Jesus Christ, I would have nothing, including Eternal Life… the best possession of all.
Next time I am in church, singing the invitation song along with others, I will pray that my non-Christian buddies will see that in eternity, they will have nothing- even though now they have everything. Because Christ is the only possession you can bring with you.
Then I suddenly remember what my Jamaican friends endure because of their eagerness to hear God’s Word. They walk long mountainous trails in their heels and their best Sunday dress to get to the church building. They sit on rock-hard wooden pews with no cushions, for at least two hours during the Sunday morning worship, excluding Bible class. Did I mention there is no air conditioning? Then, they have to walk back home with no expectation of a plentiful Sunday lunch.
They are some of the happiest people I have ever seen. And here I am, sitting in a cold air-conditioned building, with pews so soft I could take my nap, listening to a short 25 minute lesson. I forgot to mention, I rode to church in a spacious suburban. And I was complaining.
After six mission trips to Jamaica, I am finally seeing the light. Well, sort of. I have been given so much, but at times I am selfishly unhappy. The Jamaicans have been given very little in our eyes, but most times they are incredibly happy.
Why have I gotten it all wrong? Why am I just now beginning to start to see it? Why do I refuse to count my possessions and chose to beg for more? God has given me these possessions. Without Jesus Christ, I would have nothing, including Eternal Life… the best possession of all.
Next time I am in church, singing the invitation song along with others, I will pray that my non-Christian buddies will see that in eternity, they will have nothing- even though now they have everything. Because Christ is the only possession you can bring with you.
14 comments:
hey friend!
sorry about the troubles with the email link. hmmm. . . i should look at that. anywayza. here's my letters for emailing :)
nicole.neesby@gmail.com
so awesome that you have taken so many trips to jamaica! bet you've got lots of great stories!
xoxo
fantastic. I really enjoyed reading this.
Mission trips really change our perspective on everything. I went to Thailand 3 summers ago, and the people there are some of the friendliest, happiest people I've ever met, and they don't have it nearly as good as we do. It's so refreshing to see these underpriveleged people remain so content, and really opens our eyes to seeing how great our life really is.
I heard about red pandas from Christopher, actually. We were talking about Mozilla Firefox, the browser, and he mentioned that they're real animals. haha
I wanted to come play Phase 10 with you! Sad day. haha, but congrats on winning! :-)
lovely and a lesson that I try to teach our children and remind myself of everyday...bless you!
This was such an awesome post Mem. I know I'm guilty of taking things for granted and not seeing how much I've been blessed with. There are so many people who have so much less than me.
Thanks for a great reminder.
Love this. Very interesting hun!! Amazing what you are doing.
xo.
Awesome blog!
http://thewrittenword-jlr.blogspot.com/
This was such a beautiful and touching post. How neat to have the experience of a mission trip to Jamaica! Doing a humanitarian mission is on my life list of things I really want to accomplish. Your words here are so inspiring!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog! I can't wait to read more from you:)
xoxo
hey there! thanks for looking at my blog! i once lived in Haiti doing what you're doing. i remember coming home thinking wow, air conditioning, microwaves, warm water, carpet, etc. it was a wonderful feeling to be happy while living there with nothing. we don't need everything in the world to make us happy but somehow i still seem to think materialistic. it's hard. i think everyone should have this opportunity!
This is absolutely beautiful. I like to think of myself as gracious and happy no matter what circumstances are, but I know that deep down that isn't true. I hope one day I have the chance to visit such a place to really put things in perspective for me.
xo,
jessie
You are SO lovely!
you're welcome, lovely :D !!
love, polly
I don't know how you found my blog, and chose to comment on it, but I am so very glad you did! Your writing is inspirational...raw, poetic and it really speaks to me!
Thank you for finding me, so I could find you. I look forward to getting to know you through your blog. I am your newest fan! Keep up the great work and when you have a chance, read mine about my life on a Kansas cattle ranch. :)
I love your blog! And that is amazing that you have gone on so many mission trips! What a gift to be able to do that. :] And to be able to learn so much from such humble people. I really need to work on not complaining and being grumpy about things as well. Especially when it comes to sitting at church in a nice, air conditioned building and enjoying a wonderful lesson.
you are SO GORGEOUS!!! love your sweet heart <3
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