A Journey of a Thousand Miles Starts with a Single Step
I’ve been walking my journey for 49 years and 7 months, give or take 9 months. My feet have walked upon the soils of Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. I’ve seen the waters of the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean and the China Sea. I’ve seen the rich, the poor and the middle class, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ve seen the wonders of birth and the despair of death. Yet, I am left to ponder the meaning of it all.
Plato wrote the Allegory of the Cave, which tells a story about some people who are chained down in a cave always looking forward. All they can see are shadows cast upon the wall from people walking in front of a fire. This is their reality; they draw their knowledge upon what they can see. It is of course limited. One of them has the chance to break free. He heads for a light and emerges from the cave. His reality and his knowledge is now expanded. This is true, but have things really changed? Does he really know more or will he always seek more knowledge? Will there always be unanswered questions? This is my life. I see, but I need to see more.
I am seeking, looking for a better place. I am not satisfied with where I am at. I have questions that need answers. I was engaged in a conversation with a fellow doctoral student who happened to be a pastor. I explained to him that I feel that being a pastor has become a form of employment. He disagreed, or I should say he agreed with a caveat that it is okay. I was talking to my wife and explained to her that a Catholic priest’s life is about serving God. Hence he is not married to a woman, nor are Nuns married to men. In this fashion they can devote their entire life to God. I must wonder just how much better it is that pastors not have a life outside of the church.
What I mean, Jesus says that a man cannot be serve God and money at the same time. He must serve one or the other. A married pastor with children is responsible for the wellbeing of his family which includes financial support; thereby making the ministry a job, or employment. Forgive me, I am not trying to impugn the motivation of those who are pastors and have families. I just believe that working for God is a 24/7 job thus putting family second. What we see instead are pastors that run home right after church, others who try and skip out of maintaining office hours, just to state a few thoughts.
This is my incongruence as well. I want to serve full time in China, but I have responsibilities here, namely a wife, a daughter and a son. I cannot do both. I have asked them to sacrifice some eight times now as I journey overseas; they are left behind to tend the proverbial farm. Thus I suffer cognitive dissidences. I must justify only one, not both.
As I head over to Hong Kong, to deal with 90-100 degree and 90 percent humid weather, and to deal with the craziness of living with not just my team, but all of the teams assigned to Hong Kong, and as I get ready to deal with the stomach problems, the illness’ the pouring out of care and service to my team. I do so with trepidation. There is so much that needs to be done at my house. I am not bringing in any finances during this time, and I am leaving my family yet again. Furthermore, I feel as if I am abandoning my students.
To be frank, I am about $1500 short as I write this. I am blessed by those who have given, blessed that God has provided thus far, confident that He will fill the need. My journey of a thousand miles continues. I ask you, to take a step and come with me. Walk with me in Hong Kong. Stand by my side as I teach English. Stand with me as I share the message, and pray with me for the salvation of those who are still lost. Just for a time, let our paths cross in a common task, a unified purpose. All peoples of the earth have the divine right to hear.
Plato wrote the Allegory of the Cave, which tells a story about some people who are chained down in a cave always looking forward. All they can see are shadows cast upon the wall from people walking in front of a fire. This is their reality; they draw their knowledge upon what they can see. It is of course limited. One of them has the chance to break free. He heads for a light and emerges from the cave. His reality and his knowledge is now expanded. This is true, but have things really changed? Does he really know more or will he always seek more knowledge? Will there always be unanswered questions? This is my life. I see, but I need to see more.
I am seeking, looking for a better place. I am not satisfied with where I am at. I have questions that need answers. I was engaged in a conversation with a fellow doctoral student who happened to be a pastor. I explained to him that I feel that being a pastor has become a form of employment. He disagreed, or I should say he agreed with a caveat that it is okay. I was talking to my wife and explained to her that a Catholic priest’s life is about serving God. Hence he is not married to a woman, nor are Nuns married to men. In this fashion they can devote their entire life to God. I must wonder just how much better it is that pastors not have a life outside of the church.
What I mean, Jesus says that a man cannot be serve God and money at the same time. He must serve one or the other. A married pastor with children is responsible for the wellbeing of his family which includes financial support; thereby making the ministry a job, or employment. Forgive me, I am not trying to impugn the motivation of those who are pastors and have families. I just believe that working for God is a 24/7 job thus putting family second. What we see instead are pastors that run home right after church, others who try and skip out of maintaining office hours, just to state a few thoughts.
This is my incongruence as well. I want to serve full time in China, but I have responsibilities here, namely a wife, a daughter and a son. I cannot do both. I have asked them to sacrifice some eight times now as I journey overseas; they are left behind to tend the proverbial farm. Thus I suffer cognitive dissidences. I must justify only one, not both.
As I head over to Hong Kong, to deal with 90-100 degree and 90 percent humid weather, and to deal with the craziness of living with not just my team, but all of the teams assigned to Hong Kong, and as I get ready to deal with the stomach problems, the illness’ the pouring out of care and service to my team. I do so with trepidation. There is so much that needs to be done at my house. I am not bringing in any finances during this time, and I am leaving my family yet again. Furthermore, I feel as if I am abandoning my students.
To be frank, I am about $1500 short as I write this. I am blessed by those who have given, blessed that God has provided thus far, confident that He will fill the need. My journey of a thousand miles continues. I ask you, to take a step and come with me. Walk with me in Hong Kong. Stand by my side as I teach English. Stand with me as I share the message, and pray with me for the salvation of those who are still lost. Just for a time, let our paths cross in a common task, a unified purpose. All peoples of the earth have the divine right to hear.
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