Decorum or Disguise

Decorum or Disguise: Unveiling Our Needs

A couple of months ago I attended an international ministry conference in Guatemala City. What struck me immediately were the enormous and very obvious needs for shelter, clean water, food, sanitation, and safety. As I reflected on what I was witnessed I contrasted it against the life I have known in the US I was taken aback. In the U.S. we have somewhat of sense of “decorum” to our neediness. Basically, we try to hid and pretend to the best of our ability when we are in need of help. Our pride dictates that we keep up appearances. When I travelled through Guatemala I noticed there was no shame in being needy. People lined the streets sitting around all day long…waiting for something to happen. They did not feel obliged to cover or disguise their hearts.

The longing in their eye for hope or purpose was not hidden. In the US we tend to want to hide our pain and our deepest needs. We feel great shame in being transparent. We have more food, more clothing, more toys and have more opportunity than our friends in Guatemala…and yet when we drop the plastic smiles we still possess the same look in our eye as the Guatemalans…a look that says…I need to have a purpose…my life needs meaning. Jesus never asks us to pretend…he just simply asks that we come to Him in our neediness.

“The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.” Ps. 116:5-6