No more small thinking

Well here it is; the first in a series of letters about our upcoming trip to Kenya. By writing in this blog we hope to be able to tell our story, to describe our feelings, experiences and challenges as we prepare and go to Kenya. We want you to feel part of our trip, because we need your involvement and partnership to effect change in this place. As well, this blog will let us tell you stories of Kenyan kids and others we meet who might touch or inspire you. Our hope is that through all of this you might be encouraged to decide on a specific mission work of your own, and thereafter to live with purpose to do the work you choose. Your work might be in Africa, at home or in some other place. The place doesn’t matter. What matters is that we all move from being hearers to doers; that we make this mental exercise we know as Christianity, a matter of action.

Let me start off by telling you a little personal story. I (Howard) think about it when I get discouraged or feel let down, and it helps get me back on track. I hope it challenges you.

Not long ago I was at a bible study, where the participants were asked to choose a word or two to describe themselves. No one had much to say. I had however thought about it. I'd also thought about the Revelation story of the stone with a new name on it. I think my answer surprised the group. "I choose the word 'Courageous' to describe myself", I said. "That is the way I choose to live. I refuse to live at the level of reduced expectations."

My boldness came from thinking about the following quote in Waking the Dead by John Eldredge, who was quoting Nelson Mandela. Mandela said;

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most
frightens
us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and
fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of
God. Your playing
small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened
about
shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were
born
to manifest the glory of God that is within us … And as we let our own
light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we
are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates
others."

As Eldredge points out, if living gloriously were a matter of knowing facts and having knowledge we should be the happiest, shiningest, doingest people in the world. Intellectual reasoning has not made us stronger Christians. We have lost the understanding that we can be extraordinary people, taking part in an epic struggle, and instead accepted that Christian living is an exercise in attending church and groups, learning facts, controlling sin, and speaking propositional claims to truth.

We (Judy andI) do feel inadequate most of the time, but we're determined to change that in our lives. Perhaps you want to change too. We hope our stories and writings about our trip to Kenya will help inspire you. We hope you'll comment on what we have to say.You can agree or disagree. (If "blogging" is unfamiliar to you give us a call and we'll get you connected). Perhaps through our conversation we change together and for the better.