Being Real in Whoville

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In "Horton Hears A Who," the citizens of Whoville cried "We are here! We are here! We are here! We are here!" Many people have a prayer card on their refrigerator with a photo of a missionary family, their faces perpetually smiling. When I was a child, I looked up to missionaries. I put them on a pedestal. I even argued with God when He first called me to missions because I knew the bar was too high for someone like me. Having been a missionary for a little while, and after meeting dozens of others, I am absolutely certain that every missionary is a real human being. We deal with the same stuff everyone else deals with. We aren’t super. We make mistakes. We are fragile. Sometimes, when facing overwhelming circumstances, we begin to ask questions, though not out loud. Why am I here? What good am I doing? Am I really needed here? The questions sneak up on you. They wait until you have a moment of weakness and they evolve into accusations. When you find out your college-age child is injured or your parent is ill and you are stuck thousands of miles away. When you miss yet another milestone in a loved one’s life or they miss one in yours. When the culture defies your efforts to minister in Christ’s name. When you are sick or exhausted. When someone asks you “so, what’s your ministry?” after you’ve spent four hours just to prepare a meal that would have taken 45 minutes back home. When the questions come, they bring discouragement, doubt, and anxiety – none of which are friends of mine, though we are acquainted. Once while I was praying about this, the Holy Spirit reminded me of 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” and Philippians 4: 6-8 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” So I strive to fill my mind with God’s Word and to continuously thank and praise Him. It works, because God’s Word is true, but it’s not just a one-time deal since our enemy never sleeps. He prowls. We have to guard our minds constantly. Please pray for missionaries. We need it.