Plain Jane

When I returned from Madagascar in 2013, it was said to me, more than once, that I had just been on a long trip. An extended vacation if you will. I was astonished at this, mainly because I felt like I had just been through a war. The war wasn’t physical, although sometimes it was just as draining physically. It was a mental and spiritual war. One that would be remembered forever and would eventually lead to where I am now.

Before leaving in January, I also heard words that were very sweet, very encouraging, but also big shoes to fill. I heard things like “you’re so brave!” or “you’re my hero!” Such big encouragement to carry. The size of those words is indescribable. So, there you have it. Two different extremes. One that knows without a shadow of a doubt what the cost is to share the Gospel among people who have never heard. The other that makes it sound like a fun vacation. Well, allow me to set the record straight.

Workers on the “field” go through mundane days and exciting days. Sometimes the struggle of ease is what can have us yelling at the cart being pulled by Zebu to move faster! (Not that I have done that….) On any given morning, our 2-mile journey in the truck to language class can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour. 2 MILES PEOPLE! Nothing is easy. Let me correct myself, nothing is easy like American easy. I found myself, just this week, telling a friend I missed having things I wanted when I wanted them. Now, if I want a Snickers bar after a hard language day, I have to travel to the good grocery store on the other side of town just to get it. That trip is beyond long…so the Snickers isn’t even worth it by the time I’d get there.

So, there are those long and frustrating days, but there are also those days that give you life. I’d have them in the States too. Days where you know you’re exactly where God wants you to be. It doesn’t even have to be a big success of a day. It can be sitting in traffic, turning your head and seeing a Malagasy man staring at you’re very white skin. But one flash of my pearly whites, elicits the biggest flash of almost-all-there pearly whiteish teeth. One smile makes the whole day worth it.

I appreciate the thought that I am someone’s hero. But I have to be honest when I say, I don’t want to be. I want to live a life that glorifies God. I want to do what He has called me to. I’m no more special than the person picking up the trash from your driveway or the person handing you your Chick-Fil-A nuggets (can I get those mailed to me somehow??). I’m just regular old me, living out the call that God put on my life. These days look mostly like going to language class, being exhausted, then taking a nap. But they also look like smiles on faces of people who need hope.

My heroes do so many different things. They teach, they’re retired, they’re mothers and fathers, they’re lawyers and pastors. They’re just regular people living in their calling. They’re not perfect. Sometimes they have exciting lives, but sometimes they walk around with baby spit up on their shirt all day. They live all over the world. They live in places that the Gospel isn’t “allowed” to be. They live in very cold places. They live in extremely hot and humid places. They also live in places with air conditioning.

There is not one mold that is higher than the other. God has called all of us to be obedient. God’s call is different on all our lives. Sometimes you have to move across the country or world, but the work is just the same. Giving glory to God with our lives. Telling people who have never heard of Jesus, about His extravagant love. Oh, how the Kingdom will be impacted when we stop looking at other people’s calls, wishing they were our own. Live in the calling God has given you. Live it to the fullest.