Which Bothers You More?

Please note: The following post contains one word of profanity. If that will cause you any discomfort, please do not read any further. Then again, maybe you should consider reading on...




I'm not sure that I've shared about my desire to serve the poor. The orphans. The sick. The world's cast-offs. It's something that has been brewing inside of me since I was a teenager. Every time I hear of someone who gave up everything to move to some foreign country or the mountains of Appalachia, etc. to live in extreme hardships in order to love and serve the people there and I feel almost desperate to be able to do the same thing.

Yet, here I am tucked in my house for the night and I'm not quite sure that I did much of anything for the Kingdom today. Some days that feels like it's never going to change.

It becomes so easy to get caught up in things that really have no eternal significance. To become offended by things that amount to nothing compared to the injustices of this world. Desensitized to the suffering and hurt around me.

I saw the following quote the other day and, well, I'll just let it speak for iteself:

“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.” - Tony Campolo

There are times I am so guilty. Ignoring that which truly matters by getting my feathers ruffled at something as simple as a word that makes me uncomfortable. A word that Christians aren't supposed to say, according to religion.

We have totally missed it when we become more comfortable with hearing about a hurting and lost world than we are with one bad word.

So, which bothers you more?

Lord, expose the areas in my life where I'm distracted and made useless by focusing on things completely irrelevant to You. Break my heart with the things that break Yours. Give me a heart that loves with Your Love.