I will never truly belong here. The color of my skin will not allow it. I stand out. It is a truth that cannot be denied. When I walk down the streets, people stare. They say “mzungu” which means “white person.” They speak to me in Swahili and laugh when I respond. They watch me as if I am some strange creature from a foreign land. This can be difficult to accept. It is in our human nature to want a place to fit in. We want to belong. We want to be accepted. No matter how hard I try, I can never be a Tanzanian.
But that is not what God has called me to. He has not called me to make this my home. My home is in heaven. This is just a temporary place. As Christians, we are all aliens and strangers to this world. We do not belong here. We do not fit in here. Many times, we are not accepted here. So how do we respond? Do we follow God’s command to “be holy as He is holy?” Or do we find ourselves “conforming to the ways of this world?”
Many times, I try hard to blend in with the Tanzanians. But just as I cannot belong to this country, we cannot belong to this “world.” God has called me to be different. He has called me to be set apart. He has called me to serve Him on this earth until He calls me home. Until then, my heart will make its home with Jesus no matter where my physical body may live.
Where do you choose to call home?
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God… All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance; and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I think Dad went through some of that in Zim, but the way he seemed to deal with it was to say things like, "I'm just a dumb white guy; what do I know?" Making fun of himself that way broke the tension for him and allowed him to join in the laughter at his expense. If it helps, Africans don't really laugh like Americans laugh. It is rarely mean-spirited, and often they laugh not because they think something's funny, but because they're just delighted by it. Does that help at all?
Preach it sister : )
hey girl! i love it. i read that exact passage this morning and for some reason today it had more meaning than ever--something about coming back from the jungle your eyes seem to open up to lots of things. anyways...i've been trying to be peruvian myself--my blue eyes hold me back! love u! thank u for the blog entry--very encouraging!
HEY! I just wanted to fill you in on something crazy! That verse (Isaiah 44:3) is one that i came very close to durring my time in the land to the north of you. I claimed that verse for that land just as you claim it for Tanzania! I'll be praying that God would pour out streams in those you are working with but also in your life as well. Have a great day....btw, i'd love to be your contact. haha.
Post a Comment