Love of Place and People

As I read through the article (See the AP Article "Ambassador" HERE) by Denis Gray, I couldn’t help but respect diplomat John Dean. A man who continues to feel so strongly for the country he left behind 40 years ago is a man who did not consider himself just an employee of the government, but considered himself attached to a particular place and a particular people. In other words there was, and still is, a sense of calling this man felt to Cambodia. I have heard arguments made that God does not place real callings on the hearts of his followers. Instead we are all called to “Go and do”, to make disciples, and to live a Christ-honoring life in a general sense. These things are all true. However, looking at my own life I realize how we all have to make particular choices about the “where” and the “how” of the life we lead for Christ. At the end of the day it takes a great deal of planning and effort to move to a location across the planet from one’s hometown. This type of planning requires a deep and long process of reflection and mutual discernment in the midst of a Christian community before plane tickets are purchased and a ministry plan is put in place. In other words, the cross-cultural worker has to ask himself/herself, “Is God leading me to do this? Is he calling me out from my home context into this other place?”. As you can see I do believe that God calls out the cross-cultural worker and that God lays cultures and peoples on a person’s heart.

Anya and I often feel burdened by the times when the culture around us seems to be going in a direction that is away from the truths and teachings of Jesus Christ. We cry tears when our host culture, Russia, cries tears and we rejoice when they rejoice. We understand diplomat Dean's feelings when he reflects on his inability to change the circumstances around him. Jesus Christ also wept on the hills overlooking Jerusalem. His concern and love for a nation is the type of commitment we hope God would place in our hearts.

Have you ever felt burdened for a people? Have you ever felt called to a particular place or time? May God help us all to take our eyes off of ourselves and to care deeply for those who are around us. Make it so Lord God and grant us the strength and wisdom to pray for those with whom we work.