Oh Why Don't We Go?

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

Play it Safe...

 I thought of going to the man by the road

Then taking his hand and lifting his load

But a voice in my head slyly spoke in my ear, 

"Play it safe."

I saw the poor child who needed a hug,

His hands were so grubby his face all a smudge,

But a tune in my ear sang so softly and low, 

"Play it safe."

I bowed to the woman who stood by her car. 

I figured her help would come from afar. 

But a sweet lilting voice banged a slight melody,

"Play it safe."

At the end of the day, I saw my poor wife.

I took in the counter and the children's last strife.

And I thought to myself surely this is the time, 

"Play it safe."

So I walked to my room, took a nice steaming shower,

Emerging in time for a hot steaming platter,

I shoveled it in thinking only of me.

"Play it safe."

I laid in my bed at the end of that day

And put each event on my memory's replay. 

I brought up the woman and man by the road.

I remembered my wife and her tiring load. 

I thought of the child, grubby but sweet

And in my mind's eye, I sighed with relief. 

"I was safe."

Matthew 25:41-45

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.