Go home

"Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Mark 5:19-20

Sometimes, Jesus isn't calling us away. If you're like me, you hear stories of people being called to places all over the world to do things that require incredible amounts of faith. I heard a story about a girl not much older than me who went on a "routine" mission trip to Uganda. Seeing the orphans there just was too much for her, and she knew God was calling her there to care for them. She ended up adopting some dozen orphans in Uganda and picking up all herself and moving there. No family. No friends. Probably no language. And most of all, she left behind a serious boyfriend. Like, that takes some serious faith. That's not something you just do for no reason.

I hear stories like that, and I get mixed emotions. I wonder if I would have that courage. I wonder if God has that in store for me. I'm not afraid of it. In fact, I know in my heart it would be thrilling and so wonderful, but then I think about where I am. I know God wants me teaching. Somedays I don't know why, but I know that this is my place right now. I wonder if in 1, 5, 15 years that place will change, but as for right now, I'm doing what He has called me to. He hasn't called me to leave my friends and family to follow Him. No. In fact I still live with my family... God has called me to tell of what He has done to my friends. I'm not one of those who gets to go on a crazy adventure that makes great stories to tell in front of the congregation. I think God knows that would be an easier life for me. I think He knows that I can adapt to crazy and exciting. It's boring and mundane that is tough. It's being here - among the "Sunday Christians" or the middle-class agnostics that are so common - that is tough. How do you minister to these people?

But God said to me "Go home to you friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you." And He has done great things.

No. Sometimes He calls us to stay right where we are. Africa is not the "Mission Field". The whole world is a mission field. My house. My school. My neighborhood. My corner store.

Plane ticket not required.