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“The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom
shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be
afraid?” Psalm 27:1. This is both my and Eric’s confirmation verse. It was sung
at my deaconess consecration and at our wedding. These words are far easier
said than lived out. In some ways, it was easier for me to say them in the
United States, because I had a huge safety net.
In the United States, if I got
sick, I went to a doctor I knew I could trust. I knew that doctor would have
access to the latest advances in medical equipment. If something went wrong
with my teeth, I had a dentist I could trust. If I had financial problems or
computer problems, my family was right there with assistance. At the pharmacy,
I knew I would get what was described on the label. For my car, I had a trusted
mechanic and AAA. If I went to a restaurant, I could be reasonably sure that it
had met certain health/sanitation standards. If there was a fire, the fire
department was right around the corner. If I was in a car accident or was the
victim of a crime, the police were a phone call away. Things are very different
now.
Having lived in Papua New Guinea, I
am somewhat accustomed to a reduced safety net. However, I have noticed one
significant difference this time around: In Papua New Guinea, I lived with an
American missionary family who had lived and thrived there for over 25 years
and my father-figure in that family was a surgeon. While we didn’t have all
modern medical equipment at our disposal, I knew I could ask him any question
and he would find me an answer. He was personally invested in insuring that I
would return to the U.S. in one piece. This gave me a measure of comfort.
In Tanzania, I find that whenever I
get sick, I am terribly afraid. Since there is a lack of diagnostic tools, a
lot of medical practice here seems to be throwing several different medicines
at the problem and hoping that something works. Additionally, each medicine has
its own side effects, so it then becomes a question of “What is symptom and
what is side effect?” This is not a criticism of the Tanzanian doctors or
nurses, because they are doing the best they can with the tools and information
available. It is, however, an adjustment for me. I am learning to trust that
while I may not have the safety net to which I am accustomed, my God has not
changed. I am never outside of God’s reach.
I also realize that I am not devoid
of a safety net. I have access to a significant amount of financial resources.
I have cataclysmic insurance. There is a network of Lutherans across Tanzanian
that would immediately come to our aid if ever we should need it. We have
Tanzanian and ex-patriot friends who offer wonderful advice and encouragement.
The fact is that most Tanzanians have a vastly smaller safety net than I do,
and yet they are not paralyzed by fear. They live and trust God, perhaps with
an even greater intensity thanks to their lack
of safety nets.
Maybe this is what Jesus is
addressing when he talks about the difficulty of the rich to put their faith in
God. I find it ironic that we Americans put “In God We Trust” on our money. Is
it God we trust, or our resources? I’m not saying we should abandon our safety
nets as a society, and I think we should try to improve the quality of life for
others. I agree with Bono that “where you live should not determine whether you
live.” I am just wondering where we ultimately put our trust. How much is our
worldview shaken when the safety nets disappear? I can only speak for myself,
and these last few months have left me with the disconcerting realization that
I am not as brave as I once thought I was. My confidence in God’s benevolent
love is weak, but this reality was previously veiled by my habitual reliance on
my safety net. Praise the Lord that He can still do mighty things with faith as
small as a mustard seed. I am praying for growth.
