Mary's Joyful Song: God Lifts Up the Lowly

Last month I co-led a trip to Malawi with Debi Nixon. The group was filled with Executive Directors, CEO’s, business owners, entrepreneurs, basically a bunch of successful people–I was the weak link on the team. The goal was to spend time with the staff of a non-profit Resurrection supports in Africa, walk in the communities in which they serve, and talk with the local families.

The communities we were to visit have no electricity, their access to water is kilometers away (and often dirty), their mode of transportation is often by foot, or possibly a bicycle. The life experiences of those in our group vs those in the community couldn’t be any more different. Malawi is a warm culture–meaning they stand close, they dance, they sing, and they welcome you with open arms. Enter in the U.S. culture (considered a cold culture) and we feel more comfortable with a quick handshake, a how are you, and let’s get down to business.

By the world’s standards, the rural Malawians would be considered lowly, and we (from the U.S.) would be considered powerful. And yet each person in our group was transformed by our time spent with families that live in leaky thatched roof home with a middle school education. Why? Because they saw each person as valuable, special, and smart. They listened (and learned!) about sustainable agriculture, economic empowerment, composting, and how solar lights have catapulted their child’s education. They listened to Mrs. Chalema who shared her story of going from being hungry to now feeding her family–including her 12 grandchildren AND she happily shares fruit (and fruit juice!) from her trees and vegetables from her garden with others. And that is one example of hundreds.

We went and experienced love, hope, joy, kindness and generosity. The people we encountered weren’t lowly–they were some of the most noble people we’ve ever met.  On one of our last nights in Malawi, as an entire community welcomed us in the pitch dark of night, they offered us a chicken in thanks for bringing solar lights (thank you Resurrection!) to their community. A chicken in Malawi is about a week’s worth of wages, and yet in their generosity and joy, they gifted it to us with open hands.

Since then, I’ve often reflected on the ways I’ve closed my fists. Whether it’s not giving of my time, or my talents, or my resources, or even my attitude. I continue to think of the many ways some of the most impoverished people in the world have been a role model on how I can be a better version of myself.

I can’t help but share a few pictures below–you’ll note the joy on their faces (Mrs. Chalema with her juice pn the right 😊). It makes me completely rethink the definition of lowly. My hope and prayer is that we all redefine lowly: perhaps it’s someone with a closed fist? Or someone who treats others poorly? Or perhaps it’s someone who only thinks of themselves? Or someone who is always negative? We could follow Jesus’s lead and turn this world upside down by redefining success and nobility as someone who is generous of spirit.