An Indian Journey through Lent, Day 13
One question has recurred for me in different forms since we planned this Indian escapade. I’ve probably asked it in about 6 different ways, and it has to do with relative wealth. How to get into it?
In late 1980 I was discussing a period of employment in India with The Leprosy Mission. Their State Director for New South Wales was Jack Torrance, a Scot with a delightful brogue. Jack must have noticed that even then I had idealistic and ideological tendencies, for one day he asked, “Bro, you’ll probably be living in a hospital guesthouse at a far higher standard of living than most of the local people. What do you think about that?” I was stumped. I started to stammer out a reply about living in the town like everybody else, but realised that I had no idea what this might entail. I eventually replied that I would have to discern specifically what God wanted, and obey that.
That satisfied Jack, and I still think it’s the best answer, though in the intervening 30+ years things have grown more complicated. For example, should we make improvements to the flat we live in, knowing that while they’d be out of the range for many locals they are cheap for many of the tourists who come to Manali, and we’d leave them for those who follow us. Should I, to take a simple example, drink cappuccinos, knowing they are many times more expensive than the tea supplied to workers in most shops? And isn’t it good that I’m using the excellent computers and presentation equipment I’ve brought with me…for good?
“What would Jesus do?” I asked Johannah, my Indian physiotherapist, with whom I’ve had excellent conversations about this issue and much else.
“He probably wouldn’t drink cappuccinos,” she replied, her customary glimmer in her eye!
One question has recurred for me in different forms since we planned this Indian escapade. I’ve probably asked it in about 6 different ways, and it has to do with relative wealth. How to get into it?
In late 1980 I was discussing a period of employment in India with The Leprosy Mission. Their State Director for New South Wales was Jack Torrance, a Scot with a delightful brogue. Jack must have noticed that even then I had idealistic and ideological tendencies, for one day he asked, “Bro, you’ll probably be living in a hospital guesthouse at a far higher standard of living than most of the local people. What do you think about that?” I was stumped. I started to stammer out a reply about living in the town like everybody else, but realised that I had no idea what this might entail. I eventually replied that I would have to discern specifically what God wanted, and obey that.
That satisfied Jack, and I still think it’s the best answer, though in the intervening 30+ years things have grown more complicated. For example, should we make improvements to the flat we live in, knowing that while they’d be out of the range for many locals they are cheap for many of the tourists who come to Manali, and we’d leave them for those who follow us. Should I, to take a simple example, drink cappuccinos, knowing they are many times more expensive than the tea supplied to workers in most shops? And isn’t it good that I’m using the excellent computers and presentation equipment I’ve brought with me…for good?
“What would Jesus do?” I asked Johannah, my Indian physiotherapist, with whom I’ve had excellent conversations about this issue and much else.
“He probably wouldn’t drink cappuccinos,” she replied, her customary glimmer in her eye!
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