Ur of the Chaldeans

As I prepare to embark on a new chapter in life, I have been thinking about what it means to truly leave "the home of your family."  What I am doing is not a simple move across town.  It is not a move across the province, country, or even continent.  I am leaving to live half-way around the world.  I am leaving the "comforts" of North America, to live in the "comforts" of Africa.

I was recently listening to a message from a pastor in the U.S.  In his message he spoke about Abram (who eventually became Abraham), and how his call from God to leave his home, and family, was something completely earth shattering to Abram.  The start of Abram's story can be found in Genesis chaper 12.  The culture that Abram lived in was completely different than the life he would choose to live in when God called him.  Abram was living in a major city.  There was industry, and education.  People had places to worship to go to.  It is believed that Abram's father was an idol carver, and that Abram was his father's salesman.  The main god that was worshipped in Ur (Abram's home) was Nannar, the moon god, and the moon goddess, Ningar (you can find all of this out by doing a search on Google.  Try "ur of the chaldeans," "call of abram," etc...).

Abram leaving the home of his family was not just as easy as "pack up and go."  I think that we as English speaking North Americans miss the impact that this would have on Abram, and his family, and his community.  This was a call by a personal God to leave the history and tradition of impersonal gods.  This was a call for Abram to turn his back on all that he knew and understood, and go to a land he knew nothing about.

I am leaving a land of opportunity and wealth to live in a land that is considered impoverished.  I am leaving a country I know for a country that I don't know.  I am unsure as to what life in Kenya holds for me.  The gods that I am leaving here in Canada could be considered, by some, to be money, cars, houses, property, job, income, big screen televisions.  The list could go on.  I am going with the hopes of showing people in Kenya, that they matter.  I want them to see that the choices they make have an impact on their future, and the future of those around them.  I want them to know that they are loved, and that they have love to give.

Lofty goals?  Maybe.  Am I dreaming?  Maybe.  I have to step out in faith.  I have to believe that it is possible to make a difference.  No matter how small the change, it can make a huge difference down the road.  For now, I will walk under African skies...