Ants are not the Problem...

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One thing that has been a daily thorn in my side since returning to Kenya is the vast amount of ants that have taken up residence in our house since we’ve been gone. I don’t ever remember there being this many ants in our house previously, and I have decided that they are colluding with the 2yr old boy who loves to feed them with crumbs and scraps from our table during every single meal.  I have literally seen ants crawling on him during a meal searching for a little handout that they apparently feel entitled to.

After trying multiple ways of getting rid of the problem, I recently asked our house helper how she deals with them. She looked at me a bit confused and said, “Ants? It is just their time.” Hmmm. Now I was a bit confused. I replied with, “Yes, but I do not want their time spent in my house eating my food…” She had a look of empathy come over her face and I mistakenly thought we were going to share a moment of misery together. Oh, no. She sided with the ants. “But it is the season of rains, and they need to come inside to gather food. They do not have any place to go. They do not want to come inside, but they must.” Well, this was definitely a new perspective. It was one that I did not care to agree with! She then went on with, “They will just come for some time and then they will leave. It is not a problem.”

“It is not a problem.”

Wow. I let that sit with me for a while after our conversation, and the question that kept coming to my mind as I reflected on it was, “If the ants are not the problem, then what is the problem? Because clearly this is a problem. It causes me frustration every single day!” The only logical conclusion I came to was: ME. I am the problem.

And here is the continual angst of anyone living in a foreign culture: our “problems” are most often not “problems” in the real world that we live in. It’s not just ants. I saw a sparkle in the eyes of my house helper that day…a little chuckle that I have seen all across Kenya when we have run into “problems” that are not really problems. You don’t have clean water? Why is that a problem? You are an hour late for your appointment due to sitting in traffic? Why is that a problem? You are frustrated that six people have cut ahead of you in the line at the bank? Why is that a problem? Your power has been off for over 24 hours? {Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle, chuckle…}

“It is not a problem.”

Could this voice possibly be the voice of our good and gracious God trying to imprint something on my heart (with a little chuckle himself)? Could He possibly be saying to me, “There are bigger battles to fight than ants. How quickly you relinquish the peace in your heart simply over earthly discomforts- miniscule ones at that! Don’t you see that the fight is not with the ants? Or the traffic? Or the water? Or the line you have been standing in with a fussy toddler that everyone wants to console for you? These things are smoke screens. The true battle is over your heart. This I give to you: PEACE. Every day- PEACE. Are you really going to so willingly give that up to the ants that are crawling under your table?”

Hmmm. I need to sit with this one for a little while longer.

Jesus, will you give me the “chuckle”? Will you give me the perspective to see the things that are truly problems and to let go of all the smoke screens? Will you capture this heart with your peace and help me to hold on to it with fierce commitment? Forgive me for so willingly giving it away before my day even begins. This is going to be a tough one to relinquish. I don't like ants...

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing, psalms and hymns and spiritual songs., with thankfulness in your hearts toward God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 2: 15-17

This is Life.

{chuckle, chuckle, chuckle, chuckle...}