Rwanda: Do We Americans Need God?

Rwanda is a nation with many needs.

For food.
For shelter.
For education.
For exports.
For infrastructure.
For sustainable crops.

But most significantly, many Rwandans we met recognized their need for God. Especially for healing and hope after the horrendous genocide of 1 million people between April and June of 1994.

So I was asking myself on the last day, why does life seem so much simple here in Rwanda? How can they need so much, have so little, and be so happy? And why does going home feel like going back to chains?

Here's my theory: We have the same eternal needs (our own brokenness, wounds, sin, and struggles) but we (including me) have more means to distract ourselves from them.

Magazines to read.
CNN news to follow.
Words with Friends turns to finish.
Birthday parties to attend.
People to impress.
Blogs to read.
Vacations to take.
Work deadlines to meet.
Friends to catch up with.
Kid schedules to balance.
Lattes to sip.
Cars to be fixed.
Promotions to pursue.
Movies to see.
Taxes to file.
Sport team losses to mourn.

The list goes on...

We are so good at numbing our needs. Some of us don't do it intentionally. Some of us do. But regardless, we are all good at it. Our society is good at it.

I think the reason coming home felt so depressing was because God, and our simple need for Him, was so much more obvious in Rwanda. The truth about life and what's really important was so much clearer.

So what do I do now? How do I purposely carve out distractions and live aware of my need for Him? Maybe it's the small things like deleting game apps on my phone that suck up my time and attention or watching less TV or less social media.

To be honest, I just don't know. I'm not sure if any of these will work. But there's got to be something I can do.

Because for 11 days I lived without those distractions and it was beautiful. I felt more alive. Less stressed. And more eager to know God.

Most of us have food.
Most of us have shelter.
Most of us have more than we need.

Except when it comes to God.
Then we always desperately need more.
Whether we feel it or not.