Life in Rwanda has opened my eyes to so many aspects of myself that I was unaware of. It has shown me deep parts of myself that are so different than those around the world. It has shown me how strong bonds are when the Holy Spirit unifies His body. I have noticed a lot within myself about the natural ways that Western culture has affected me. I am so much more impatient, busy bodied, and works-based productive that I ever thought.
Life here in Rwanda is slow and simple. Their minds aren’t rolling 100mph on things to do, things needed to be finished, or worries of the future. They do not live enslaved to the clock or a schedule. They are more focused on the people they are with than being on time or rushing to the next activity.
Wow, how wrongly I do measure my productivity daily. If I get a lot of things done and can cross items off of my personal “to do” list, I fall it a productive day. What I am learning here is that my view of productivity, many times, does not line up with Kingdom productivity. My “to do” lists and making this my main goal of the day is honestly quite a selfish way I have lived for so long. I love getting errands done, and fast also. This typically, in my life, means a lack of interactions with others during these times. I quickly get frustrated when I pick the “slow” check out line. I am annoyed when salespeople try to help me. But, hey, I can cross off a few times from my list.
I am so convicted of this lifestyle. What does, in comparison, a productive day look like for the Kingdom of God? Most likely a whole lot more relational interactions, love, a more slow and calm mind, an interruptible spirit to whatever He may have for me, and way less thoughts of myself and worldly desires.
God has granted us so much freedom, yet I way too quickly turn this freedom right back into enslavement to the beth things I felt free to turn to in the first place. Sure, I am free to take care of myself, yet I easily become enslaved to my selfishness. I am free to live in this world, yet I become enslaved to pleasing the world. I am free in my days, yet i become enslaved to worldly productivity. True freedom is what the Lord desires for us, yet I believe we are so far off, no matter how free we think we are living. Freedom is simply living wholly with Jesus, walking with Him, and glorifying Him in all we do. Freedom is knowing and living out the Truth. We are free to do anything that brings Him glory. How often to I take this freedom for granted and clutter my mind with worry and earthly enslavement. A lot. More often than I know.
Let’s run into freedom, friends. He’s waiting and offering freedom every day to us. Slow down. Take in His glory.
