Perception is not Reality?

In a previous post, I shared that our church began a series to help us better understand the differences between how our brothers and sisters in Africa live compared to how we live in the United States.  The more I read, the more I have really been struck about the difference in our perception of what it means to be ‘poor’.  According to American standards, most Africans wouldn’t even make it onto the chart to be considered, ‘poor’. So, what is their reality?

Even more, how many times have I wished I had this new toy, or some great tool, or the latest iPhone? How convicted I have been reading examples of how others live on a total of $2.50 per day. While our family figured out our meals to fit into that budget for one day, that is the daily reality for many other families. And, we just counted the cost of food – sometimes, that meager amount has to cover electricity and ALL expenses in the household! Living on $2.50 per day equates to $912.50 for one person for an entire year. That’s less than the cost of the latest iPhone. Wow.

So, as we have continued through the book, it is as though I am seeing our situation in a different light. Almost as though I am waking out of my own preconceived notions and a daze of selfishness. And, yes, in my head I knew how different our lives were in the United States compared to Africa. But, I had never really thought about what that looked like on a daily basis.

The next mission

The book covers one month and is divided into weekly sections with a new location and family highlighted each week. As we were reading through the mission challenges for the next week, there were a few that our kids thought would be “fun.” Spencer even asked if we could do the one room challenge again because he really enjoyed it and would like to do it again…  While spending the evening together in one room can certainly have its advantages, I would imagine that the novelty would quickly wear off. Plus, it didn’t seem to have an immediate impact on our family – it didn’t seem to challenge us as much as I thought it might.

So, while discussing this week’s challenges, there was one that got the most push-back – Fast from social networks and pray for social justice. Take a day off from Facebook and Twitter. Pray every time you get the urge to check your feed.

As our kids do not have Facebook and Twitter accounts, we talked about how to make it a little more applicable to them.  We agreed on fasting from other apps like Snapchat, texting, Instagram, and the millions of other apps available for entertainment. Yes, even Fortnite was on the list…

It’s not supposed to be easy

We encouraged the kids to let their friends know why they wouldn’t be texting back and would be breaking streaks. So, on the way to school yesterday, I heard one conversation in which one of our kids, (who shall remain nameless), said that he ‘had to’ stay off his phone, and ‘couldn’t’ play games and text.

I suggested some different word choices… Like maybe, he was going to stay off his phone, and wouldn’t be playing games and texting.

That’s when it hit me.

This was supposed to hurt.

It was not meant to be easy.

But, the thing we needed to remember was that it was a choice. We didn’t have to not use social media and all the fun things on our phone. We still had that option. But, that option does not exist for our brothers and sisters in Africa. That is their life and reality.

At the end of the day, we talked about how it went for all of us.  For Brad and Eliana, it was easier than they thought. Elle shared how she had grabbed her phone by habit, but then stopped and put it down, and then prayed. (Hallelujah!!)

I found myself reaching for my phone periodically throughout the day. Mostly when I had a few minutes of downtime. And, then  I remembered the mission and stopped myself.  Another member of our family had more difficulty and decided he didn’t complete it as well as he wanted. He is planning on repeating it.  I can’t wait for him to come home and share how it went for him today!

What I learned and am still learning…

This was a great mission to remind us how much we take for granted.  Whether it is a simple mindless game that takes us away from reality for a moment or a quick text from a friend that makes us smile, these luxuries don’t exist for everyone. I know I will be reminded of this mission every time I pick up my phone.

It was definitely a great way to stay mindful of others’ lives and their needs. Through praying for them each time I was tempted to check my own feeds, I could see how this could lead to a positive change. Not only will our brothers and sisters be encouraged by more prayers, but I will also be more mindful of how I spend my time and grow my prayer life.

Your thoughts?

What do you think? Would this help you reframe your thinking? I would love to hear if you have ever taken on a mission like this one. Please share your experiences and what you learned!  I can’t wait to hear from all of you!