I've been tossing this question around in my heart for nearly a decade and recently it has gotten more poignant. Today I was reading a book titled "Under an Afghan Sky." Subtly foreshadowed by its subtitle,"A Memoir of Captivity", the book details the harrowing account of a Canadian journalist enduring kidnapping and finally being released a few weeks later.
As I read, wondered, and thought, I entered the world of War. Real, serious, gruesome war. The kind that leaves indelible marks on hearts, bodies, relationships, landscapes, and economies.
I read about the terror of bombs, the brutality of the Taliban, the irrationality of suicide bombers, and my heart began to melt. To hurt for these people who knew nothing different. To reach for those children who had no other chance or dream. The pain in their eyes, the hopelessness in their hearts.
Somehow I have an awfully hard time reconciling my soft and relatively safe childhood with theirs. And it baffles me how I am teaching beautiful students today who have had their emotional and physical needs well-supplied since infancy, while children in war torn countries would give almost anything for a simple bowl of rice.
Their pain begs us to go. To help and to rescue. But the question always comes, "How?"
Should I become a nurse or doctor and offer my assistance in their clinics? Perhaps. Should I pick up my Bible and head off with a single pair of shoes and one coat. Maybe.
What really is the answer? What really is the call?
We have been given the mandate to, "Go and preach the Gospel to all nations."
This means that we cannot all go to the same nation. I beg of you. If you feel God calling you to go to another country. GO. Simply go and let Him do the work. Time is sliding quickly. Opportunities are being lost daily. Go and may the Lord be with you.
If, on the other hand, you are called to stay home then still go. Go to your neighbours. Go to your children. Go to your church family. Go to your closest town. But by all means, GO.
"FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.
Romans 1:16
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