Malaysia has been a gift.
The fact that we're in this unexpected place during the month of Christmas – when we could have so easily been in Haiti, Africa, or any number of less developed countries – is nothing short of a big sloppy kiss from God.
We’re staying on the island city of Penang, in the “Little India” section of town. The food here is cheap and phenomenal (I’d had very little Indian food in my life before Malaysia) and there are so many different cultures and people groups to talk with and get to know.
And while it’s amazing that this city has so many ways to help us feel more connected to home during the holidays, it also holds a spirit of consumerism that, to this point, I have had complete freedom from since leaving the States.
I began to feel it in Thailand when we would travel from our little village in Doi Saket to the larger city of Chiang Mai to visit their huge night markets and westernized restaurants and coffee shops.
I was able to excuse away my feelings of overconsumption there by telling myself that Christmas was coming and I needed to send home gifts to my family .. so it was ok to shop. Plus, the trips we made into Chiang Mai were so infrequent that I didn’t really feel the full impact .. until we got to Malaysia.
Penang is so much like New York that I almost cried the first time we walked the streets. I immediately felt at home and couldn’t wait to explore this cool artsy city. The street murals, the unique cafe’s and boutiques all called my name and right off the bat – I was hooked.
During our first few days in Penang, I took advantage of every opportunity to see what the city had to offer. And while it was a lot of fun, my focus quickly shifted from why I’m here to all the things and experiences that I wanted to have.
It took almost no time before I began to see the change in myself. I kept saying to my teammates, “I just don’t feel right .. something’s off. This month should be easier than any other since we’re in this amazing place, but I’m having a really hard time.”
I just wasn’t seeing the obvious difference.
After being away from it for so long, the easy access to just about anything I could want bombarded my mind – and my focus was no longer on God, my calling here or the broken people all around me. My spirit was crying out for me to stop and really see, but I just couldn’t take my eyes off of the stuff.
It wasn’t until a few days ago that, while I was working at the local homeless shelter, I looked up into the eyes of a woman who lives for a week off of what I spend on a single cup of coffee, that a veil was lifted from my eyes.
How had this happened?
How had I spent in one week, the money that I had planned to spend for the entire month in Malaysia?
After living in this type of culture my entire life, why had I not recognized it’s effects right away?
While there is nothing inherently wrong with having the ease of modern culture available, I do feel that there is a spirit of greed and selfishness attached to it that needs to be kept in close check.
When these things become our focus, whether we realize it or not, we are no longer serving our true purpose. We are no longer putting love for others before ourselves, no longer searching for our identity in God. Rather, we give in to the lie that we can instead create our identities by wearing it, drinking it, driving it or watching it on one of our 15 electronic devices.
I want to break free from this mindset for good. And while these past months have brought a lot of freedom from finding my worth in things, a week in Malaysia has shown me that I still have a lot to let go of.
After bringing it to God, I also brought it to my team for accountability and have decided that, outside of food needs, I’ll be fasting money for the remainder of the month. I will no longer allow my surroundings dictate my heart’s desires.
Rather than looking into the shop windows as I walk the street, I want to instead focus my attention on the hungry beggars, the endless chanting that pours from the sea of mosques and temples, and the searching backpackers wandering out of local hostels.
I know that right now, in the beginning of December, the holiday shopping frenzy is in full force back home. The stores are jam packed with bargain seekers and the wish lists are long. But I would encourage you to take a step back, and ask God to show you what it’s really all about. Ask Him to take your veil away – to see what’s all around you. He's offering you a gift that's completely free, yet cost everything. Receive it.
8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. 10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. – Luke 2:8-14
