Jealousy

I admit it. I’m a jealous person (apparently). I am sometimes sucked in by American materialism and “keeping up with the Jones.” But here in Uganda, it’s not about the stuff. It’s about the spirit. I have commented to a few friends how much easier it is to be close to God here. To really be in tune to His heart, to hear His voice, to call out to Him, to thank and praise Him. It’s a state of need and desire to be close to Him. And I see it so fervently in the believers here.

I was reading a book recently (an excellent book called “When Helping Hurts”, that I highly recommend to EVERYONE!) and the author commented about the people he encountered in a tent church in a slum here in Uganda. The members were all praying aloud at the same time, as is customary in Uganda, and he heard praises and pleas such as “Lord, thank you for the food you provided yesterday, please provide it again today,” “Father God, be with my husband so that he doesn’t beat me today,” “Almighty God, I believe that you can provide school fees for my children.” And on and on the praises and prayers went. It’s out of a great need and desire to praise God for the work He is doing and will do in their lives. It’s a constant outpouring of thankfulness and approaching His throne for their daily needs. If everything is God’s and He lovingly gives it us, then this is how it’s supposed to be, right?

And I’m jealous. I see the dependence, the glistening tears of gratitude when He moves and the outstretched arms as believers fervently pray for their nation. When did I miss out on this? I know that it’s in America too, but sometimes I get so caught up in that good ole American materialism and the fact that our “needs” are not even in comparison to the “needs” of people in Uganda, that I forget. I forget that God has supplied all my needs, according to HIS riches and glory! I forget that what I have is already HIS and I should pour out blessings and praise to Him who has so generously given to me. I forget to seek his face for my daily bread.

So, I pray that I will not forget. That I will stand in the gap for our nation, for our children, for the impoverished of this world. That I will stand in awe of the cereal I have in the morning, because God provided it (okay, maybe that’s a little much, but I should be thankful, even for the little things!). And that I will remember my brothers and sisters in Uganda. Though they may be “materially poor” they are “spiritually rich” and we can all learn something from them.