Unstained
If you read My Journey to Missions - Part 1, you know that James 1:27 was a verse the Lord used in my life to get me to this place of moving to Haiti. When many people read this verse they focus on the beginning: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction." This is the part that I focused on and was moved by initially, but there's more to the verse.
"...and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
There's no denying that I am one stained girl. And some of those stains go pretty deep. I'm far too attached to the things of this world than I should be. I have a closet of clothes that is fuller than it needs to be. I have a room full of possessions I could probably do without. I spend way too much time browsing through Facebook or Instagram. I care too much about what people think of me. I worry too much about my future - my future job, future marriage, future home... the list could go on and on I'm sure.
One of the things I'm most looking forward to about moving to Haiti is (hopefully) becoming less stained. I have to fit all of my clothes, possessions, and teaching supplies into two suitcases. I won't have comforts like hot water or air conditioning most of the time. I won't have the same technology connecting me to the world 24/7. I won't have a car. I won't have insurance. I won't have 20 fully-stocked grocery stores, 3 malls, or 2 Targets within 5 miles of my house any more (not exaggerating on those numbers). I won't have multiple computers or a smart board in my classroom...
But I will have Jesus, who is more than enough. I pray that I will know Him more intimately and depend on Him more fully without all of those distractions. I pray that He continues chipping away at my materialism and selfishness, and moving my heart towards generosity and willingness to self-sacrifice. I'm excited to step away from this American culture for a while and experience life lived differently. Now truthfully, I will still have way more comforts and luxuries than many people living in Haiti, but I hope the Lord uses this time to reshape my desires and priorities.
I know this process likely won't be painless. Sometimes you have to scrub pretty hard to get those stains out. But I know that as I give up the things of this world, I will gain things infinitely more valuable and satisfying.
Yes, I hope to serve and be a blessing to the people of Haiti, but I know I will benefit from them and this experience just as much (if not more) than they will.
"...and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
There's no denying that I am one stained girl. And some of those stains go pretty deep. I'm far too attached to the things of this world than I should be. I have a closet of clothes that is fuller than it needs to be. I have a room full of possessions I could probably do without. I spend way too much time browsing through Facebook or Instagram. I care too much about what people think of me. I worry too much about my future - my future job, future marriage, future home... the list could go on and on I'm sure.
One of the things I'm most looking forward to about moving to Haiti is (hopefully) becoming less stained. I have to fit all of my clothes, possessions, and teaching supplies into two suitcases. I won't have comforts like hot water or air conditioning most of the time. I won't have the same technology connecting me to the world 24/7. I won't have a car. I won't have insurance. I won't have 20 fully-stocked grocery stores, 3 malls, or 2 Targets within 5 miles of my house any more (not exaggerating on those numbers). I won't have multiple computers or a smart board in my classroom...
But I will have Jesus, who is more than enough. I pray that I will know Him more intimately and depend on Him more fully without all of those distractions. I pray that He continues chipping away at my materialism and selfishness, and moving my heart towards generosity and willingness to self-sacrifice. I'm excited to step away from this American culture for a while and experience life lived differently. Now truthfully, I will still have way more comforts and luxuries than many people living in Haiti, but I hope the Lord uses this time to reshape my desires and priorities.
I know this process likely won't be painless. Sometimes you have to scrub pretty hard to get those stains out. But I know that as I give up the things of this world, I will gain things infinitely more valuable and satisfying.
Love this quote from Jim Elliot.
Yes, I hope to serve and be a blessing to the people of Haiti, but I know I will benefit from them and this experience just as much (if not more) than they will.
Thanks for sharing! It's exciting to follow how the Lord's leading you. I read a blog post today that made me think back to what you wrote. Here it is: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/06/how-to-be-beautiful-have-a-beautiful-home-life/ Praying for you :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! I think a lot of time with missions we focus so much on how we're going to help others we encounter. We forget that somethings shift in us too - our perspectives, attitudes, thoughts. I'm excited to be unstained too. I might need more bleach :)
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