To Alaska, or Not to Alaska?

So, the topic for this session is "If you could live anywhere, where would that be? And what would your occupation be while there?" This is a question that has haunted me over the past few months, and I shall shortly explain why. Before I get into the meat of my contribution let me tell you what I am going to do. I am going to mention three places (Alaska, non-specific poverty area, and Ireland) and narrow down my view until I select just one. So, without further delay, let us commence!

I shall first consider Ireland and quickly dismiss the idea, since it is not a serious consideration. The only reason I include Ireland is that it is the richest country in the world. After all, its capital is always Dublin! Yes, it was all merely for that joke. It was worth it. If you don't get the joke, you should get that checked out.

Now, onto the real issue. I will start by considering Alaska, which I shall ultimately dismiss also. When I first think of the question that is this session's topic, I always immediately think of Alaska, because I fantasize about living the mellow life of a hermit there. Being a bit of an introvert, a non-people-person, and a quiet thinker, I often find myself wishing that I could live a simple, isolated life all by myself, all alone with my land and my thoughts. I would maintain a self-sustaining homestead by a small river, and, when not working the land, I would be reading and writing... a lot. To me, that sounds like paradise! I turn away from this answer because I know that I need people, and I know that people need me. I know that God has called me to touch the lives of people like He has touched mine, and living alone in Alaska would be terribly selfish. I will not give up the faithful call of Christ for this. It's got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home. (Oh well, oh well, oh well.) My life is a ministry, a mission, and it involves other people. This is something that I wrestle with, hence the comment that the question is "haunting" me. So, having also rejected Alaska, let me finally turn to my last option and final decision.

By a non-specific poverty area I mean any place in this world where the inhabitants' quality of life is poor. I know that there are far too many of these places. Ideally, I would live in a poverty-stricken community in the United States. There are many places internationally where I could make a difference, but I want to serve the people of my own earthly nation. I would sell my possessions and retain only what I need to become a member of such a troubled community. While there, I would emerge myself in the life of the community, I would become one with the rest of my fellow humans there. I would share in their struggles and share the good news. I would, of course, face some threats, but I would at least impact the people, the valuable, precious people. I have read of people who have done this, and I find it to be one of the most significant actions a human being can ever perform. Look to Jesus. He left His home with the Father to enter into our miserable condition. This is the most striking, beautiful thing I can think of, and I think Christians are called to do the same. This is why I would want to leave my comfortable life to enter into the hard lives of many others. This is why I reject my hypothetical Alaskan life. The love of Christ compels me. Yet, this final option need not be hypothetical! This is something I can do, something God can do through me. This is the charge that I have to keep, in one form or another. This is my answer to this session's topic. Peace!

Superbly,
SmoothJazz