Why is it so hard for us to just ‘be’ ?

I feel so often that we go through life just to get by and do what we need to do; trying to get to the next thing on the list, trying to get things done before the deadline, trying to get somewhere, or waiting for something or someone. These are the moments that I feel furthest away from God and am just trying to get through my day and check the items of my ‘to do list’. During these moments I often feel that I am frustrated, worried, anxious or concerned.

Why is it that we often feel the need to always go go go? Why is it so hard for us to just ‘be’ and spend time with God? Why am I so preoccupied with myself and everything else that is going on in my life?

It amazes me how being in Haiti brings me so much closer to my Lord and Savior. Even though it has only been a couple days since we arrived, I am continually reminded of all that I have to be thankful for and what a loving, caring, compassionate and forgiving God we serve.

Despite all that has happened in Haiti, they continue to be joyful and seem to be enjoying life and making the most of it. Of course not every moment is going to be a joyous moment, but I feel that they view those moments as possibilities and opportunities for hope. I wonder if people look at my life and could say the same? Do I view every obstacle as an opportunity for hope and possibility and bring it to the Lord or do I become frustrated?

Being in this environment; surrounded by poverty, trash all around, tents as homes, limited water supply, broken roads, children walking on rocks without shoes, piles of cement from what used to be someone’s home breaks my heart. As many have wondered I’m sure, the question is why? We could repeatedly wonder this question and try to come up with a million reasons as to why Haiti is like it is, but it comes down to faith. We have to have faith that God knows what He is doing and that He has a plan for everything.

As He says in Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

Should it really take an environment like this to help me to just ‘be’ and spend time with God? Why is it that I can’t do this at home in my own environment? I’m not sure why that is but I do know that I need to bring it to the Lord and pray about it because the closeness that I have with my Savior while I’m in Haiti, I long to have everyday of my life.

The Haitians lifestyle is definitely different from the Americans but I feel that as I am here and interacting with them they continually teach me and remind me of all that I have to be thankful for.

Enjoy the little moments in life, don’t live your life just trying to check the items off your ‘to do list’ or be constantly on the go that you don’t have time to spend with God and ‘be’ in His presence, life is too short.

Jessica Burmester

Healing Haiti Team Member

June 19, 2010