Perspective

This past week, Asaua and I had the privilege of going to Kenya for 8 days for Visa purposes.  We were amazed at how different Kenya is to Ethiopia.  While still Africa, it displayed many characteristics of the Western World- Malls, Supermarkets, Civilization, Development.  Although we were able to visit the slum area of Nairobi and see the poverty that exists there, we were also able to enjoy the benefits of its colonialism.

This was a benefit yet also a resurgence of our materialistic nature that comes with being brought up in a country that is full of it.  How can we help it when reminded that this is Christmas season and spending and eating is what you are meant to be doing? 

It kind of made me frustrated on our return, being tempted to ask, what are we missing out on?  Should not Ethiopia be more like Kenya, availing everybody to the “spirit of Christmas” that exists “everywhere” else in the world?  But then I did ask the question and was questioned in return about the purpose of all this festivity and celebration so early before the Christmas day that is celebrated on a totally different day in Ethiopia. 

Why do we celebrate Christmas for so long?  I am not totally sure of its reasoning.  Perhaps because of the Advent season that leads up to Christmas day that is celebrated by Catholicism.  Most probably because of the commercialism that comes with the season and the high retail dependence on this time of year.  I know that I have always enjoyed celebrating many different Christmas and End of year “feasts” to have an excuse to have that get-together that all year, we have promised we would have with friends and family. 

The truth is, though, that Christmas is about Jesus, who was born into this world, not in the form of a rich man with many material possessions, but in the form of a baby with no place to stay.  He was born in a home, more like the homes many of the children in our programme are born into-with hay for bedding, sharing his room with donkeys and animals. 

From day one, Jesus was resonating with the poor and the needy.  He invites us into His world and He has asked us to follow Him.  Sometimes, well many times, that means that life will be uncomfortable.  We can choose to work with the rich or the poor.  Sometimes, working with the poor isn’t appealing, and I’m not saying that working with the rich is bad- but it definitely demands less stretching for our human nature.  Would you rather work with the rich, or work with the poor? They both mean totally different things.  Working with the rich, more often than not, means that you yourself are rich.  Working with the poor, however, means getting to know people who have stories and lives that will break your heart.  It means lowering some standards that you may previously have held.  It means that life can get uncomfortable and dirty.

There is a song I’m sharing below by Leeland.  This song is so powerful.  It is more often a tragedy for us to turn away from the opportunities God gives us to serve those who need it most.  He turns our attention to the broken, the needy, the orphaned, the fatherless and the widowed-those who can’t fend for themselves-those who don’t have a government to look after them- these are those in whom the Church has the opportunity to rise up and work with. 

There is a greater perspective that we can have-not an earthly one where we just live life for ourselves and for this life- but we can live life for others, for eternity, like Jesus did.  Jesus only had 33 years here on earth.  He lived each day with purpose.  He has asked us to live like Him, follow Him, and to be USED by Him..  We don’t know how long our life will be here on Earth.  What you got for Christmas in 2011 is not going to matter when you die, but what you GAVE for Christmas in 2011 might.  Give Your All!