“God uses His glorious riches to provide everything you
need." ~ Philippians 4:19
Justin woke to the wailing sounds
of wild dogs and roosters. By this the
third day of his mission trip, his whole body ached. It seemed that no amount of stretching or
moving would ease the pain from days of moving dirt and mixing concrete. Still there was much work to be done.
Struggling to ease tired, swollen feet into cracked leather
boots, he noted that this pair would soon need to be replaced. If only he could exchange his aching back
along with them.
After enjoying a glorious Honduran sunrise, a mug of Copan
coffee, and his morning talk with God, Justin started to feel better. His back pain had faded and his smile had
returned. Only then did he begin to
reflect on his good fortune for living in the USA!
In a country poor in sanitation, walking can actually be
harmful to one’s health. The ground is
covered with feces; soiled with diseases, sharp rocks and other bits of
trash. They walk miles to find clean
water, medical help, and food.
But they are polite . . . and content . . . and joyful.
Which made him think - it’s easy to see ourselves as privileged
rather than as servants of God. Happiness
is based on material things or events – like a new pair of boots. It’s a fleeting emotion that depends on
things outside ourselves.
But these shoeless children radiate something deeper, joy
that can only be present during the most challenging times; peace in the middle
of a raging storm. Thiers’ is an
attitude of the heart. They serve each
other with no possible personal gain, embracing God's grace and feeling His
love.
“So who’s luckier – them . . . or me?” he wondered.
When asked what we want from life, most of us answer "I
just want to be happy." There’s a
common belief that happiness is something that can be achieved and held onto. We think, "If I can just find the right
job, or get married, or have children, or retire." Those goals remain elusive.
While joy is related to happiness, it’s a much deeper
experience. Enduring joy comes as we
persevere through trials, with God’s help, and our faith matures and is fortified. True joy is eternal because it is based on
our relationship with Christ, which is itself an everlasting source of joy.
Merciful Lord, instead of growing older
every day, help me live as a joyful soul that remains forever young. Remind me that true discipleship means
putting purpose over position, service over safety, and Christ over
convenience. Amen
