"For to me, to live is Christ." Philippians 1:21
...enriched
An Estonian proverb tells us, "You are as many people as languages you know." Of course, many Estonians fluently speak as many as five languages. They understand how one is enriched by living in a new culture. So shouts the question, "Who are you after eight years of knowing Estonian? Are you different than when you began the language learning process?" Often as I reflect, I wonder if this process of "missions" has been more for my benefit than that of those around me. Missions by nature must be others oriented, but perhaps I'm the one who has grown the most.
...living simply
I have learned to live simply. To simply live before God, honestly, using my own gifts, not trying to pretend. I am only Stephanie and I simply offer who I am to God each day, allowing him to use me, my time, my resources, my relationships for his purposes. It would be so easy to become discouraged, wishing I was more outgoing, like the missionary who left the field right before I arrived, or a more capable starter of great things, or a more effective mobilizer of people, or... But I am simply me, and if God so chooses to use me at all, I am content.
...worshipping simply
My personal worship has evolved as well. I have learned to live simply in worship, to present myself to him seriously and with awe, to bow (literally) before him in prayer, to lift my arms in praise. The two churches we regularly attend approach worship very differently. In one, I experience the awesomeness of God, the seriousness of my sin, and my great need for forgiveness. We bow humbly in prayer, we solemnly sing in minor key, and we rarely speak to one another until the service is over, concentrating completely on a relationship with the living God. As we enter the other, we experience the value of relationship with one another and the freedom to express our joy in worhip. The gratitude overflows from our hearts expressed in heartfelt (and often very loud and rythmic) song. We dance and lift our arms in joy! Very different, but both important in true worhip. I have learned from both to worship simply and honestly, with no pretence or pride or worry about what others may think of the ways I express myself. The position of my body expresses the state of my soul before God.
...living simply with less
I have learned to live simply in material things, not holding on to that which is non-essential. In a country where many families share a small one bedroom apartment, we see how little is necessary, how much is luxury. In a country where shops are not filled with unlimited choices, we eat simple food and wear the same thing several times a week. We enjoy nature and take pleasure in being with the people around us, rather than depending on entertainment options to keep us busy. Living with low expectations frees us to really glory in moments of luxury from time to time. Living with less frees us to concentrate on eternally important aspects of life.
...simply living
I have learned to simply live, not filling our time with unnecessary pursuits, but maintaining priorities which are pleasing to God. Coming from a country where we sign our children up for any number of activities, taxi them around, and generally just spend a great deal of time doing, I have learned a great deal here about "being". Estonians gladly take their month of vacation and go nowhere. They rarely overstress about getting things done. (Yes, I have noticed the downsides of this mentality, but lessons for simply living also abound.) We have learned to limit our choices as a family, not because there is nothing to do here or to be involved in, but limiting ourselves to a few involvements enables us to live more intentionally as a family, as witnesses in our community, as part of the family of God.
... simple solitude
I have learned the simple beauty of quietness, of space for the soul, even in busy places. I can pass any number of people as I walk without interruption of my thoughts (no passing greetings). We are able to shop in a busy grocery store and no one would think of commenting about my baby or the weather. In a place that seems unfriendly at first glance, I now understand that silence is truly golden. When I visit the USA, I find myself mildly irritated when a stranger interrupts my thoughts while I'm out walking. Have I grown unfriendly? No, I have learned the sereneness of solitude.
...simply me
The core of who I am has essentially changed by the years I have spent delving into this place with these precious people, my friends. But am I two different people as the proverb seems to say? No, I will never again be the person I was when I arrived here. I am a simpler, less complicated person, able to live more purposefully, more intentionally than ever before. I desire a simple life, living simply for Christ.
...enriched
An Estonian proverb tells us, "You are as many people as languages you know." Of course, many Estonians fluently speak as many as five languages. They understand how one is enriched by living in a new culture. So shouts the question, "Who are you after eight years of knowing Estonian? Are you different than when you began the language learning process?" Often as I reflect, I wonder if this process of "missions" has been more for my benefit than that of those around me. Missions by nature must be others oriented, but perhaps I'm the one who has grown the most.
...living simply
I have learned to live simply. To simply live before God, honestly, using my own gifts, not trying to pretend. I am only Stephanie and I simply offer who I am to God each day, allowing him to use me, my time, my resources, my relationships for his purposes. It would be so easy to become discouraged, wishing I was more outgoing, like the missionary who left the field right before I arrived, or a more capable starter of great things, or a more effective mobilizer of people, or... But I am simply me, and if God so chooses to use me at all, I am content.
...worshipping simply
My personal worship has evolved as well. I have learned to live simply in worship, to present myself to him seriously and with awe, to bow (literally) before him in prayer, to lift my arms in praise. The two churches we regularly attend approach worship very differently. In one, I experience the awesomeness of God, the seriousness of my sin, and my great need for forgiveness. We bow humbly in prayer, we solemnly sing in minor key, and we rarely speak to one another until the service is over, concentrating completely on a relationship with the living God. As we enter the other, we experience the value of relationship with one another and the freedom to express our joy in worhip. The gratitude overflows from our hearts expressed in heartfelt (and often very loud and rythmic) song. We dance and lift our arms in joy! Very different, but both important in true worhip. I have learned from both to worship simply and honestly, with no pretence or pride or worry about what others may think of the ways I express myself. The position of my body expresses the state of my soul before God.
...living simply with less
I have learned to live simply in material things, not holding on to that which is non-essential. In a country where many families share a small one bedroom apartment, we see how little is necessary, how much is luxury. In a country where shops are not filled with unlimited choices, we eat simple food and wear the same thing several times a week. We enjoy nature and take pleasure in being with the people around us, rather than depending on entertainment options to keep us busy. Living with low expectations frees us to really glory in moments of luxury from time to time. Living with less frees us to concentrate on eternally important aspects of life.
...simply living
I have learned to simply live, not filling our time with unnecessary pursuits, but maintaining priorities which are pleasing to God. Coming from a country where we sign our children up for any number of activities, taxi them around, and generally just spend a great deal of time doing, I have learned a great deal here about "being". Estonians gladly take their month of vacation and go nowhere. They rarely overstress about getting things done. (Yes, I have noticed the downsides of this mentality, but lessons for simply living also abound.) We have learned to limit our choices as a family, not because there is nothing to do here or to be involved in, but limiting ourselves to a few involvements enables us to live more intentionally as a family, as witnesses in our community, as part of the family of God.
... simple solitude
I have learned the simple beauty of quietness, of space for the soul, even in busy places. I can pass any number of people as I walk without interruption of my thoughts (no passing greetings). We are able to shop in a busy grocery store and no one would think of commenting about my baby or the weather. In a place that seems unfriendly at first glance, I now understand that silence is truly golden. When I visit the USA, I find myself mildly irritated when a stranger interrupts my thoughts while I'm out walking. Have I grown unfriendly? No, I have learned the sereneness of solitude.
...simply me
The core of who I am has essentially changed by the years I have spent delving into this place with these precious people, my friends. But am I two different people as the proverb seems to say? No, I will never again be the person I was when I arrived here. I am a simpler, less complicated person, able to live more purposefully, more intentionally than ever before. I desire a simple life, living simply for Christ.
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1 comment:
Stephanie, I love reading your thoughts. I am praying for you all as you make your transition to Cameroon.
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