I wrote the wrong question in my
post yesterday. The question the lady asked me after lunch was, "You must enjoy Japan!?"
This one threw me too. There is, actually, much I don't enjoy about Japan, like being apart from family and friends. Struggling to understand the language which makes me feel incompetent and be dependent on others. And sadness at the slowness of Japanese to accept the gospel.
How would you answer someone who asked you, "Do you enjoy living in Australia?" I'm sure there are at least some things that bug you about this country. There are usually more things that bug you about an adopted country. Of course we are blessed to come from such a great country as Australia. Many who clamber to come here, like boat people, would not have too much to complain about compared to their previous situations.
How did I answer the question/assumption? I simply said, "I don't enjoy Japan like one might enjoy a fun outing with one's family. I do feel a sense of peace and satisfaction, however, in being in the place where it seems God wants us to be." I don't know if she understood, though she did express some questions of her own, whether she was where God wanted her family to be.
Actually I think it is a question that many Australian Christians don't ask themselves: "Am I where God wants me to be." Usually they've fallen into some place or other and remained there. I am reading a book at present called "Live Life on Purpose" by Claude Hickman. Really enjoying it. When I'm finished I'll post a book review and you can see what you think. One great quote is,
"The idea of those who are 'called' to ministry or missions is a category we have invented, not to explain their behaviour, but to excuse ours." p39
I wrote the wrong question in my post yesterday. The question the lady asked me after lunch was, "You must enjoy Japan!?"
This one threw me too. There is, actually, much I don't enjoy about Japan, like being apart from family and friends. Struggling to understand the language which makes me feel incompetent and be dependent on others. And sadness at the slowness of Japanese to accept the gospel.
How would you answer someone who asked you, "Do you enjoy living in Australia?" I'm sure there are at least some things that bug you about this country. There are usually more things that bug you about an adopted country. Of course we are blessed to come from such a great country as Australia. Many who clamber to come here, like boat people, would not have too much to complain about compared to their previous situations.
How did I answer the question/assumption? I simply said, "I don't enjoy Japan like one might enjoy a fun outing with one's family. I do feel a sense of peace and satisfaction, however, in being in the place where it seems God wants us to be." I don't know if she understood, though she did express some questions of her own, whether she was where God wanted her family to be.
Actually I think it is a question that many Australian Christians don't ask themselves: "Am I where God wants me to be." Usually they've fallen into some place or other and remained there. I am reading a book at present called "Live Life on Purpose" by Claude Hickman. Really enjoying it. When I'm finished I'll post a book review and you can see what you think. One great quote is, 
"Do you enjoy living in Australia?"
ReplyDeleteI do. It's not a complicated question for me, although I have no alternatives to compare it with. But I'm not even looking.
Okay. I wonder how many other are of your opinion. Do you understand what I was saying, other than that? Is it a question you would think is suitable to ask a missionary?
ReplyDeleteAlmost any question is suitable to ask a missionary. After all, it's not like they were real people like us. They're weird. They're different. We have to ask them lots of questions to understand how they became this strange other person. Missionaries are even one step further than clergy. Why do they do it? We have to ask them. They are probably used to answering strange questions.
ReplyDeleteCan I quote you Ken?
ReplyDeleteWell I said it in public. Not just think it to myself like so many others.
ReplyDelete