This is Great! (or not)

On this trip I had an interesting revelation, aided by some words of wisdom from folks who have been serving in India for over a decade and a half.

"We don't love India" they said.

It's hot, dirty, polluted, and filled with bureaucracy and corruption that makes life incredibly difficult. It has soul-crushing poverty. 40% of the more than billion people who live there earn less than $1.25 a day. More than 2 million children under 5 die every year.

That being said, this trip certainly also revealed some of the beauty and vitality. The place is strikingly beautiful and alive. The people are hospitable and friendly, the colors are vibrant, the food is delicious, and the chai overfloweth. There's even a tangible sense of change and potential in the air as India continues to develop at breakneck pace (though not everyone is getting to take part).

Certainly, some people go because they love it. And it is wonderful to find blessings in the places God calls us. But we shouldn't pretend everything is rosy and we love leaving behind family and culture and comfort. That's not the point.

I'm going not because I love India, but because I love God and love people. (Well I'm trying anyways). I'm going to the slums precisely because they are not awesome and no one should have to live without clean water, food, space, love, friendship, education, family, dignity, opportunity, etc.

And we can rejoice in the work God does in us by challenging us to die to our own comfort, security, culture, etc. without romanticizing the lives of the poor. Or romanticizing our own simpler lifestyles either.

All that being said, I can't wait to get back.

[This is tied into some other thoughts about our tendency to want to get over, rationalize, or pretend to appreciate our struggles, losses, and brokenness without really mourning them. But there's not enough space here to cover all that... so it'll have to wait.]