In America, we are a culture of doers. We have schedules to keep and to-do lists to check off. We are constantly in a hurry to be on time.
I find it interesting that in most third world countries, there is an entirely different sense of time, usually characterized by being 2-3 hours late. The reason for this is that relationships take priority over agendas and life is not to be done in a hurry but rather enjoyed in the moment.
For the past two days, my team spent the entire morning doing children’s ministry. This is basically a really fancy way of saying we sang goofy songs, played games such as Hot Potato, Duck Duck Goose, London Bridge, Simon Says, Follow the Leader, and Dodgeball, and sat in the street hugging kids and having them play with our hair.
This is a new way of living for us, and while we love spending time with the children there is still the desire for structure and depth. Yes, we also are teaching them Bible stories and songs about Jesus. But I believe it it is in the letting go of our desires to plan an agenda and through building relationships with the least of these that we further the Kingdom.
