Some of you may remember my stories from the last time I was in Africa about the thick, tasteless, ground cornmeal blob that was called shima. Well guess what, it’s not just in southern Africa; it is here in Kenya aswell! And the Kenyans have not changed the recipe. It is still just as thick (like a bowl of oatmeal left out all day), just as tasteless (I’m pretty sure rocks have more zing), and just as common. And here they call it ugali (pronounced oo golly). When the kids were first served it, they said “hey, that looks interesting” and then they tried it… and asked if they could put it back! Then I told them to suck it up and they went and got straws. Okay, okay. I made up that last line, but you get the picture. The stuff is nasty without even tasting bad. But the locals eat it all the time because they have been raised on it and they dont know it could have flavor. But you know what, ignorance is bliss.
I remember when I first truly laid down my life and plans and dreams about two and a half years ago. I had a good job, I was renting a good house, and I was going to a good church. I was serving as a Sunday School teacher and an usher at church and I had plans of getting married and having 3.5 kids and 2.3 cars. I would then go about my average, successful, American, Christian life. And then God happened. He told me to put my job and Sunday School on hold and go on the World Race. But I didn’t want to. Sure it was very adventurous and was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but I loved my Sunday School kids and the job market situation was getting serious. If I left for a year, they would probably not want me back. But as you can tell by the website you are now on, I did it anyway.
And so with some aprehension and a little more faith, I embarked on a one year journey that flipped my world upside down. When I got back, I had been laid off and told by God that I was to train to be a preacher. So I enrolled in Bible college in Missouri and at the end of the semester, AIM calls me up and asked me to lead a group of young college aged kids to Kenya for two months this summer. Once again, I had other plans. I was going to get a full time job to help pay for my next semester of college, start up Sunday School again, be a church camp councelor, go to a couple weddings, mentor a few youth in my church, and just live a normal, passionate, responsible, American, Christian life. Then God happened.
And this trip has continued to turn my world upsidedown. And at this point, I can’t even remember with any detail what my life was supposed to be like. I was thinking the other day, that if God were to speak to me today and tell me I’ve done well and done his will for my life and that I was now free to live my dream life however I wanted and he would bless it, how would I respond? As sure as the Lord lives, I would lose all motivation and drive and slip into depression and possibly even ponder suicide. If I am not living for the active will of God, I would not know what to do with my life. There would be no purpose. Eat, drink, and be merry?! Is that all this world has for me?
I once was content with the ugali life. In my ignorance, I was blissful. Then I tasted what God has for me. And now, if I were to go back to the ugali life, I would simply ask, “can I put it back?” Americans are raised on ugali life. Eat steak, drink Coke, watch HDTV, and be merry. It is not bad for you so much as it is simply bland. There is no zing. But we don’t know that there could be better. For the most part, we don’t know that the grass is really greener when you don’t own it. An old proverb says that a ship that stays in the harbor will always be safe, but that’s not what ships were made for.
I am not questioning anyone’s lifestyle. Only you can know what His will is for your life. But I know if you are not pursuing the active will of God for your life, your missing out. God’s food costs a little more, but the reward is beyond compare. Don’t settle for the ugali life. It does not truly satisfy.
