According to Sofia one of the reasons that our family has close relationships is the separation due to our calling. She has a point. Since we only get to see each other once a year or twice, if we get lucky, we try our best to be civil and kind during that short time. Thus PD warns me, “Try not to nag too much, Honey.” for the time we have together is too short even for the good stuff. As for the kids, they also know that they need to use the limited time to the fullest. Therefore this visit was the same as any other time. When we got home, PD changed Sofia’s tires, got Noah’s car inspected for the Emissions test, placed nice mats on his new used car. Surely they can do all those things by themselves, but it definitely is comforting to have your dad around to do all those burdensome yet necessary things once in a while.
So by contrast, if our family lives under one roof and together all the time, we might not be this way. While we were preparing for the message, we found these words in a commentary, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” So true! The Jews rejected Jesus because He was their own. The Gentiles, and the people from farther places have more open hearts than His home crowd. To them He was a son of Mary and Joseph whom they were familiar with. Just like that we too take for granted those familiar people. Somehow my parents are not as cool as the others. Somehow my siblings are not as valuable as the others. Somehow my kids are not as smart or delightful as the others. Someone else’s lawn is always greener than mine. The grass is always greener on the other side.
In the case of the Father, it is pretty similar. If He comes to see us from far away Heaven once every ten years, we would wait for Him desperately with all our attention for that encounter. However He is too close, let alone right inside of us. Thus it is so easy for us to take Him for granted and be indifferent toward Him. But that is exactly how the Jews and the home crowd missed the long waited Messiah right under their nose. They were too familiar with Him. Familiarity bred contempt.
In the SICAP Center we lived with the same old people for sixteen years. Obviously the students graduate yearly, but they are still part of the SICAP Family. PD and I’ve had a 24/7 kind of living arrangement. All those years, one thing we have learned… These familiar people need the most attention, concern, and respect. Because they are the ones who will come to my rescue when I fall into a pit and call for help. Not those who look so cool when you see them once in a while for they would be too far away to hear your cry. In the mission field by living with the same old same old, we have learned that familiarity breeds security, comfort, endurance, and consistency.
For that reason our SICAP family is the best. For that reason our kids are the coolest. For that reason our Home Church is the most wonderful. For that reason the Father who dwells right inside of us day in and day out is the Best Father in the world.
From Missionary Ruth’s Heart
December 16, 2012