Love Isn't Efficient

Africa is a place where even the smallest things can remind the average Westerner how blessed they are.

Here are a few examples…

1)      It is wild to think that before I came here, my “low paying job” allowed me to earn more money in 2 weeks than the average person in Burundi makes in a year.

2)      Sometimes I am tempted to complain just because the power cuts off. We are currently in the dry season, and since most of the electricity is hydroelectrically generated, the entire country is having power cuts for about 8 hours a day. Not having access to power for just 8 hours a day is frustrating for me, but I am convicted by the fact that 98% of the population of this country doesn’t ever have access to running water and electricity.

3)      I wrote a couple weeks ago about a few “small” gifts I received for my birthday. But I heard a story yesterday that made me so much more appreciative that I have people in my life who are willing and able to give me even simple gifts. My lady, Sarah, currently lives at a University in Botswana, and so she has made tons of friends. A few weeks ago she found out that one of her friends, David, was about to have a birthday. Sarah somehow learned that David liked cinnamon cake, so yesterday on his birthday she gave him a card and a cinnamon apple raisin cake. David was overwhelmed with joy and said that it was the first birthday gift he has ever received. Wow! I can’t imagine the moment of seeing a university student accept his first ever birthday gift.

Where Sarah lives

Us

 This story so badly makes me want to learn how to be more grateful, and it also makes me want to take more time to show love to people in simple ways.

A few days ago I was chatting my friend Barton about frustrations that we have both had regarding a lack of efficiency in Africa. Barton improved my outlook by saying that a lack of efficiency is certainly a struggle while working in Africa, but she said that we Westerners can learn a lot from Africans about being “less efficient” in relationships. She said we can learn a lot from Africans about solidarity, and taking the time to slow down and engage in meaningful conversation. She then said something that I hope will mold my ministry in Burundi. It was simple, but profound. She said, “Love isn’t efficient.”

Wow. This is so true. It takes sacrifice, and sometimes the uncomfortable measure of taking a step back from our fast paced, results driven, Western way of life, to show love well. My wonderful girlfriend helped me learn this a bit better yesterday, and all she did was bake a cake…for someone else ;)