Mennonite Central Committee

Simple truths

Press Release, August 1998
Indonesia
by Janelle Yoder

As I bump along in a cramped angkota with 10 other people, I'm reminded how close and intertwined our lives are as humans. As I inhale the overpowering small of sweat I'm reminded, whether rich or poor, Indonesian or American, dark or fair-skinned, we are all human. And as I feel the wetness as a child across from me throws up, I'm reminded that what we do effects other people!

It seems fitting that such simple truths be conveyed to me in such simple everyday circumstances, but I'm not sure if I have ever before considered these things either "simple" or "true." I'm a product of the grand United States, and while I admire our nation's original ideology of independence, it is this very thing that leaves us lonely and alienated from our own friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

We own everything we need - nothing ever needs to be borrowed. We go shopping for a two weeks' supply of food — making us virtually independent of others except for two times each month. In many respects, it s as if we isolate ourselves so as not to endure the aggravation of interacting with people.

We further separate ourselves by making our schedules so hectic we don't have time just to stop and talk for even the shortest amount of time. The one day out of our week we endure this chore of interaction with people is Sunday. We come together hoping to unload our burdens, listen to the troubles of others and share our joys. Why? So through the next seven days we won't have to? Is that enough for the people of God to stay connected and faithful? Outside of church, do we allow ourselves to interact enough to reach the lost people living around us?

In Indonesia, people depend on each other. Not everyone owns a car or oven, so things must be shared. Huge refrigerators and freezers are not common household items so each day people go to the market for that day's food. That time is not just for business transactions, but for talking and sharing. Time for this type of interaction seems to be something that we lack in American culture. We seem to think time spent only talking is time wasted. If this were true, Jesus' whole ministry on earth was a waste of time!

We are called as Christians to share one another's burdens and to hold each other accountable to our calling. That involves time; time spent talking and listening.

Likewise, in our independent society, we've been taught to believe we have the right to live our lives as we choose. I believe God has given us each the right to choose how we will live our lives, but as children of Him, we must not allow the thinking of the world to invade our lives.

Our lives do effect the people around us. We can either be a stumbling block or a blessing. When we stop to acknowledge the Lord of our lives, we soon see how much good we can do in this world if we take the time to live with people and care enough to guard our actions and words.