I love the simplicity of this place. The scenery is composed of virtually untouched terrain which boldly testifies to the wonder of God’s creation and there are more shades of green here than I could possibly count or describe.
Yesterday I had the supreme pleasure of visiting the home of one of my friends here, Eunice, a 19 year old girl who sings in the church choir that I first came to know two years ago. I am already so in love with Zomba, but was newly captivated by its overwhelming beauty as I walked with here for a good ways along the dirt roads and through fields of corn to her humble home on a different side of town than I had ever been to. From the top of the hill she lives we could see the rolling hills of Malawi for miles and I could do nothing less than stand in awe of God’s majesty.
As I sat on her dirt porch, leaning against the brick house not much bigger than most master bedrooms at home where she and the five other members of her family love together, I was newly humbled by the beauty of their simplicity.
Rather than manicured lawns, their yard is full of rows of corn which are their family’s sustenance.
Rather than comfortable isolation, they not only know their neighbors, they coexist with them.
Without the luxury and comfort that we take for granted in America, they truly live.
Children here have attention spans that most adults at home could not even rival and as a whole these beautiful people find delight in the simplest of pleasures.
They have contentment, they have peace, and they have joy.
Having less, it is quite clear that they indeed have more.
Their simplicity confronts the clutter of my mind still sullied by the chaos and complication of my own life. Praise the Lord!
Rather than envy it, I daily choose to walk in it, surrendering my rights and expectations, my dreams and desires, my longings and hope for home and after.
I choose the simple pleasures of the day to day, delighting in the glory daily before me and the simple contentment of truly living.
“This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” –Psalm 118:24
Oh Lord, You alone are the delight of my heart and You are truly all I need. Earnestly I shall seek You, and truly continue to find You. Be my joy, oh God, and be my peace. Transform my mind and heart, oh Lord, and be my very sustenance. To You be all the glory and honor forever and ever, amen.
