The other day I was flipping through channels on my new TV and Montel Williams caught my eye. I didn’t know that guy was still on TV. Then I realized he was doing a PSA/informercial thing for Africa.
Apparently Montel Williams has been doing work to help build schools in Africa. That’s a great thing. I’m glad he’s doing that.
What got me thinking was the part where they showed the kids in Africa. I could’ve sworn I had been on the street they showed. There were kids running up to the camera in their pants and skirts with their school sweaters on. Some famous actress was visiting a school and children crowded around. I had been in that scene. So the video didn’t disturb me. For me, pictures of kids in Africa just doesn’t work anymore.
I even turned to Erin and said “That looks like Eldoret.” Traveling around the world has become pretty normal to us over the last couple of years. Apparently so has the face of poverty. The thought crossed my mind that Montel Williams was being a little melodramatic.
Then I thought about how must of us feel when we look at America. The thing is, we’re all lost. The poverty-stricken ranks in Africa are just as in need of a Savior as all of us here in the States. It’s easier for most of us to see the urgent need of poor folks in Africa, because we don’t see it every day. It’s hard to see the great needs in America because they’re always in front of our face.
We’ve known enough people who have seen a counselor for depression that we begin to forget that God never wanted us to feel hopeless. Chronic, debilitating depression is not a part of your Kingdom identity. The Lord has given you a life of freedom and joy. But we begin to think that some people are just gloomy, and we start to make excuses and say that’s acceptable.
I hope I never lose perspective. I hope the Kingdom is always my norm. I want to be a shot of idealism to a world that has settled for something less than ideal.
What disturbs you? What moves you to say that this world is not yet as it ought to be? Is it anything in America? Are you as disturbed by African poverty as by American apathy?
