Where to Live

I have lived on three different continents and two islands, besides traveling to several others. People often ask how I enjoyed living in one place or another, to which I always reply that there are good and bad points about each.

If I had to elaborate, though, I’d say I loved the entertainment in London, but not the dreary, overcast skies. My whole Bulgarian experience was amazing, but I couldn’t handle the isolation from family. Malawi was home. Enough said. Antigua had a remarkable church family, stunning beaches and we made great friends. I could have adjusted to whatever it lacked in entertainment options and supplies, but not the constant itch and battle with skin infections.

My experience living in the US? I am very conflicted about that. For one thing, it’s not home. I don’t feel any great patriotic fervor. No passion for US politics, problems or ideology. That’s reserved for African issues. I find living in the US predictable, pedantic and pointless. Ironically, those characteristics reduce my stress and almost eliminate my eczema.

As to individual states… I loved living near my family in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but the weather! Yuck. Ditto for Iowa – but add incessant culture shock and home sickness to the negative associations.

Oklahoma I grew to value. It has all the amenities I appreciate, having lived overseas –public libraries, sports for the kids, a variety of entertainment, playgrounds and splash pads, readily accessible shopping, relatively clean, regular and free(!) public toilets, and yes – potable water, especially drinking fountains! Also, I felt needed in our congregation – there was a definite purpose to our being there. But it’s a bit flat for my tastes, and it does have a wee tornado problem.

So what would be my ideal place to live? Strangely enough, Spain jumps to mind. I’m not sure why. It is beautiful and has quite the history and architecture. But the enduring impression from my July visit is that it was blistering hot, rather dusty, and potable water was scarce.

Hmmm. Sounds a bit like Arizona in summer. I guess we’ll see how ideal it is over the next few years.

Armor of God

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms... Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

~ Ephesians 6: 11-12; 15-17

In the US, the right to own and carry a gun is a key issue. I have heard numerous arguments with the main point being, "Have a gun so you can shoot someone (burglar, mugger, etc) before they shoot you." These arguments frustrated me because I couldn't effectively say why I didn't agree.

Then, on Sunday, Pastor Daylo preached on the verses above. That reminded me of my Dad and certain life lessons he taught me on this subject.

Dad had 2 or 3 guns in the house. But of all the situations he faced in 40 years in Africa, I can count the number of times he used those guns. Once he shot a rabid dog before it could bite him. Another time he shot over the head of a hyena to scare him away from our dogs and yard. The rest of the time, he used the armor of God.

One time, a flash flood dragged Dad and his pick-up sideways over huge boulders and down river. It spit him out some ways down from the bridge where he started. He climbed out of the water-filled cab with only a small scratch on his ankle, thankful that he had no passengers - a very unusual occurance. People ran up from all around and offered to lift his pick-up from the river. Twenty or so men lifted it out and set it on its wheels. Then a crowd gathered and demanded payment - some who didn't even help. They were angry when Dad said he had no money. Dad thought he'd be pulled limb from limb or stoned on the spot.

After a somewhat desperate prayer, he asked if any of the men were Christians. When some acknowledged they were, he spoke to them of how we, as Christians, should reflect God's love in our words and actions.  He reminded them of God's unconditional love and the ways we can thank him for that love. For example, helping those in need and not expecting payment. The Christians listened and spoke to the other men. Dad gave them all his Bibles, as wet as they were, in payment, and the crowd dispursed.

Dad didn't need a gun. He needed the armor of God, which he had. And he used it. God's Word has power.

Beyond my Dad's safety though, is the condition of those men's souls. If my Dad had died, he would have gone to heaven. If those men had died, they would have died in sin, perhaps in ignorance of their loving Saviour. In using God's Word, my Dad shared the mighty promises of God and gave them the tools for their souls' redemption - God's saving truth.

He also shared those promises with his daughters. He armed us for life - not with guns, but with God's armor. What a legacy! I rather hide behind the armor of God than a gun any day. The gun may or may not save my life. But the armor of God will save my soul, and perhaps the souls of those around me.