You know what my greatest wish would be? That every comfortable, privileged, complacent yet complaining, anxious, recalcitrant citizen of our United States could spend three weeks in a developing country. It would change thinking and acting in some major ways. You see, we take SO much for granted, and not only that, we think we are entitled and deserving of whatever it might be. We have no idea how the majority of people on our planet live, and we could care less. We glibly send refugees home to hostility, oppression, and violence and think absolutely nothing of it. We have everything we need, most of what we want, and by God, we deserve it!

Years ago I was privileged to be part of a denominational (United Methodist) effort and initiative in western Africa. We had some amazing experiences in Mozambique, Malawi, and surrounding areas. I remember traveling by very scary and temperamental bus to a village about 25 miles north of Malawi. We were to meet with some village elders to talk about how the Christian faith was received and experienced in their culture. A lovely man named Poloko, greeted us and invited me to his home for conversation and a meal. As we entered his home – a room about 450 square feet with two mats on the floor, a small cooking area, a pot (that I assume was for bodily functions), a small square table and a poorly constructed two-seat bench – Poloko was visibly embarrassed and said, “Please sit. I am so sorry, but one day we hope to have the luxury of chairs.”

The luxury of chairs. How many chairs do you have in your home? How many chairs have you sat/set upon this week? How often do you think of a chair as a luxury? How often have you aspired to have something as simple as a chair? It is mind-bending.

I remember another trip I made to Africa with the General Board of Discipleship. Without thinking, I had tossed a package of 2X2″ Post-It notes in my bag. At one stop, I met a pastor who led thirteen congregations (talk about itinerancy and circuit ministry!) and I innocently asked if he could use my Post-It notes. The poor man burst into tears, dropped to his knees, thanking me. He told me that he could get up to $400 on the black market for those Post-It notes. It has made me really careful about wasting Post-Its I take for granted, just ball up, and throw away.

In Cambodia, I had a package of ball point pens. I asked a group of pastors if they would like to have one and they cheered, rose to their feet, and gave me a standing ovation for passing out Bic stick pens!

In Haiti, I took a garbage bag (pre 9/11 obviously) of tennis balls and a few dozen balloons (to make balloon animals) with me. The children we encountered treated me like Santa Claus, and I was even honored by being named “the fun American” at our closing time together.

I marvel that we in the United States have so very much and yet we complain about our situation in life (sitz im liben, for you Germans) ALL THE TIME!!! We have no idea how the other half, let alone the other 74%, actually live. We have so little appreciation for the many benefits, blessings, perks, pluses, gifts, and graces we enjoy. I have the feeling that many protectionist conservatives in our country would become bleeding heart liberals if they could see the struggles, the deficiencies, the lacks, the threats, and the sacrifices of so many people in our world.

Who is my neighbor? Folks, if you are not willing to share, to sacrifice, to give, to give up, to advocate, to engage, please, PLEASE, don’t listen to Jesus. Jesus will not make you happy. If you hate refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants, slam the door on Jesus and all he stands for. If you think we have no responsibility for the poor, the unhoused, the sick, the old, the disabled, the convict, the hungry, run screaming from anything claiming to be Christian or you will find yourself compromised!!!

United States Americans should feel very fortunate and relieved they are who they are. Beyond that? We have responsibilities to carry out the Will of God. If love is not our motivator, if grace is not our unconditional offer to all, if compassion, mercy, and justice do not define our thinking and our acts, well, simply, we are not Christian in any sense of the word or Word. If we are not seeking justice, security, and unity, then not only do we not have a leg to stand on, but we also lack the luxury of a chair to sit on.