David and Chelsea – coming back from the mission

God is not calling us (I don’t know about you) to break away from the world, abandoning societal advancements. God is calling us to take a look at the world we live in, and how we live in the world. He is asking us to balance our lives — use technology to enhance our life, not overtake it. To examine our lives, and value what we have, and learn to live simply, controlling unreasonable material desire. God is not asking us to isolate ourselves, but to change the world by being genuine in our world. This may be as simple (and challenging) as leaving our phones by the door, shutting off the computers at 8:00 PM, choosing one day per week to use Facebook or personal email. It may mean wearing out the clothes in our closet a little bit more, resisting the urge to try StitchFix, and responsible sharing of things we don’t need. It may be adding the “free” date night (think creative rather than a restaurant or show) to keep our “couple” at the top of our priorities. It may be replacing a movie or TV show with prayer time. I think the ideas are easy, the practice challenging, and our attitude with which we embrace it all, paramount to all.

Can I do it with a smile on my face? Can I do it without needing 50 replies of reassurance from my husband? Can I approach this situation with renewed perspective? As our mission in the Philippines comes to an end, I feel as though I am finally finding the true mission beneath it all: to live simply, to love better, and to embrace the challenges in the world… with God to guide and Dave at my side.

CF