Living Missionally

So I've been thinking about a lot of things since my last post and I think God has been really challenging to think more radically and deeply about what my faith means on a day to day basis. Obviously, I'm supposed to lead an obedient life and follow Christ, but what does that mean when I'm forced to do tasks or jobs that I deem to be less than noble
So I've been listening to sermons from my old church in Chicago. New Community Covenant Church, if you're ever in Chicago and need a church to go to I highly recommend it, it's amazing. Also, I've been reading books and the Bible and I think the overwhelming message being sent my way by the Almighty is to embrace the present. Stop thinking about all the things that we're great in the past or planning for all the exciting things I may do in the future. I need to focus on the here and now. I need to embrace and take advantage of where I am now and the mission God has for me now and here. So teaching the upper echelon of children, a subject they don't really want to learn, so they can continue to believe that money is the root of success and happiness is a far from ideal endeavor. But it's the endeavor I embarked on and it's the endeavor God allowed me to have right now.
So i'm working on leading a missional life, just because I'm not on the front lines in China or India or inner city Chicago, doesn't mean God doesn't have a purpose for me that is just was meaningful. So I'm trying to approach everyday, whether it be at work, or just hanging with friends as a mission for Jesus. I know it sounds cheesy and maybe even a little crazy. But I'm not talking about proselytizing to everyone I meet, but I am talking about showing people that there is a different bigger purpose to why I do my job, it's not just about making the money or just about making sure the kids learn English. It's about letting people, my students and my coworkers, know that I care about them and that I want to spend time with and that I do my work not for man but for God. Pastor Peter was able to say this a lot of eloquently than I am, but I hope you're kind of understanding me. Imagine how incredible it would be if every Christian all over the world, no matter what their occupation woke up every morning excited to go to work because God has a mission for them. It's not about what I can do or how God can help me accomplish what I want to accomplish. It's about God ordaining me to be in this place, at this time for His glory and for His eternal kingdom. Crazy right...I mean this sermon series I'm listening to is rocking my world. It just seems like a concept that is so utterly lost in our society...enjoying going to work, working for more than a paycheck, making a difference in corporate America? What? So that is what I'm trying to do today, this week, and hopefully everyday for the rest of my life.
So how do we know what our mission is, we go to God of course. Right now my mission is my kids. Maybe eventually it will be my coworkers, but currently I'm too big of a chicken to actually talk openly about what my faith means to me, maybe if I can somehow reach the kids God will then give me the courage to talk to adults. So I'm trying to influence my kids with my idealism. In Korea things are very much about image and making money and marrying money and getting a good job and if you do all those things you will lead a happy life that is honoring to your parents. So basically it's a society that I completely disagree with. So I truly believe that my mission right now is to challenge my kids. To get them to see that there is so much more to life than going to a good university and putting all your time and effort into finding that perfect job that pays you a big fat salary. I'm trying to show my kids that there is a huge world out there, one so full of possibilities and opportunities. I'm trying to show my kids that helping others and getting outside of yourself is the thing that I have found to bring true joy and fulfillment. I'm trying to show my kids that there are bigger dreams than going to the U.S. or Canada, but that dreams can be anything you want. Your parents shouldn't dictate your dreams and you should hold onto your dreams as long as possible. In a culture where dreams and non-money inspired amibitions and helping others is kind of countercultural I struggle to see if I am having an impact. But there is no way I can know what my kids are or aren't taking away fron my class. And ultimately it doesn't matter. As long as I am doing what God has called me to, I know He will use it for his glory. If I can in some way in the twelve months I am here convince one single child that life is so much bigger and so much than Korea and the U.S.A than I will believe that my time here was worth it. Maybe that's making me an underachiever, but the fact that I just realized that I need to actually make a difference at work, 1 student is enough. One student is still a rather daunting task to me. Most days I have no idea whether I'm connecting to my students or not, whether they're taking anything away from what I'm teaching them and most days I feel like they have no desire to be there. And frankly I don't blame them. But maybe, I can make 1 or 2 students see that learning English, learning about the world, learning that money is something that is so fleeting and shallow and will ultimately not bring you the happiness you are looking for, is a lesson they can't find anywhere else and a lesson that could ultimately change their lives. So I'm sure I'm oversimplifying everything and I know it's not going to be that easy, but the fact that I have a purpose and a reason for working where I am that is ordained by God will make getting up on Monday morning a whole lot easier.