A Meeting of Crazies

from Elliott
We often find ourselves wondering whether we have lost our minds as we think about all the preparation for missionary service and future lifestyle change. We recently attended a training meeting of new Mission Society missionaries. From that experience, I think you can make one generalization – while we thought we were the only ones feeling a bit crazy, it seems that we are more the rule than the exception. Strangely there is a sense of peace that comes when you spend time with others similarly blessed or burdened, depending on your perspective.

One of the concepts presented at the meeting was that of how or sense of identity is impacted when you answer the calling to be a missionary. It was suggested that we will sense a loss of identity as we transition. That resonated well with me having spent many years with culturally impressive titles in the corporate real estate world.

When you have gotten used to that, shifting to the word ‘missionary’ can be a bit scary. The problem is that the word missionary illicits a wide range of perceptions. I find the most uncomfortable is the mantle of sainthood that some attach to it. I certainly know better! So, it is easier for me to become more comfortable with the alternate perception that we are simply a bit crazy. I sense others sharing our situation are OK with that.

Perhaps this disconnect with our native culture that we feel as missionaries is simply a hypersensitivity to the counter culture nature of the Gospel. That certainly is not unique to the missionary but clearly anytime you focus on crossing to another culture your degree of desire to be a Christ follower is heightened.