Megan Wedding 2017

Megan Wedding 2017

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Being Rich

We have just returned from vacation - taking a trip to Naples. Pamela and and I were invited out there by her sister - to spend a week with them. We had not done something like that before with them. It was a good week, relaxing, being some place different - a place a little less strict with the COVID guidelines but also just away from home and responsibilities that are there. 

In visiting, what you see is one perspective. Naples is a community of enjoyment. The houses are expensive, the beach is close and therefore escaping life is present as you sit on a beach to relax, escape, reflect, and have fun. In the summer of 1989 I spent it on the beach of Myrtle beach (south) with Campus Crusade. I was with 50 other college students there to work jobs during the week and doing outreach events on Saturday, with the hopes of sharing the gospel with people. It was a great summer of working and also focusing our lives on ministry as well as getting fed in numerous ways by the Word of God.  

Naturally, this beach experience was different. 

This morning, back at home, I woke up early, still on eastern time, and had more time than usual reading and reflecting about spiritual things as I read from the book Kingdom Man by Tony Evans, Appointment with God by JB Phillips, and then also looking at my mom's hand-written notes on Matthew 7. While there, I read a lot from the Bonhoeffer book, but also thought of what I saw. 

People in need have been heavy on my heart lately. As we go through the inconvenience over here in the states, many are suffering in other parts of the world. We are all told to take this virus seriously. The number of people infected everywhere with the virus is small in comparison to the population and yet people are getting sick and some dying. But, most of us here, like myself, are simply being inconvenienced. I know this because of my correspondence with pastors in Uganda and Kenya as well as lay people in Nigeria, Zambia, Ethiopia and Rwanda. In these communities, life prior to COVID was hard. And now life is harder. In Naples one can't help but notice the large houses on the beach and those near the beach with boats resting in canals, providing access to the ocean. These homes are expensive. As you see them, you can't help but wonder what it would be like to live there - to make your home there or maybe an extended vacation. 

In those moments it is hard to remember that I am already rich. In comparison to those properties I don't feel rich, but in comparison to those in need I am rich. I grew thankful for my present circumstance, where we lived - having but not overextending what we had. Yet, helping others was on my mind. Here i think about those wealthy people passing on wealth to me and it makes me realize that to the people I converse with in those African countries, they see me in the same way, rich, hoping I would share some of it. 

What's next? Get back to work and try to live in a way that honors Him.  

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Payton family.
I have found your blog rather humorous at times. Like the post on your expensive holiday to Italy.
Other times quite educational. I am not a serious follower, altho you are bookmarked.

To truly understand, in my own opinion, how truly rich we really are, one must put into no more than 4 large suitcases all that they think is required to immigrate to a village in rural China, most any country in Africa, most any European country and most any South American country. Notice, rural village. That is the crucial point.

You have no source of income and you have no job prospects. You will become who you will be in this new living situation by what is in your mind, heart, and suitcase.

Don't think I have not seriously, SERIOUSLY pondered this situation. My country of choice would be Zimbabwe. At least I have friends. (But what would happen if I did not?) This of course is the highlight of my situation, knowing some people. But my people are also rural village people, poor, even by their country's standards. No western scenario available.

I empathize with my Shona friends, I sympathize with them and I have deeply thought about and shared those thoughts with a few about immigrating there in my late years (actually soon) to live amoung them and find my resting place amoung them. I have no family and I rent with a friend. By US standards, we are also very poor.

Even I can say I am rich in comparison. I have my faith, my Bible and my hymn book. Shall we move?

ElLois