Discontent
Featured, Social Justice — By Krista McGee on July 28, 2010 at 1:06 pmI was more content living in a third world country than I am living in the United States. When our family lived in Costa Rica we had no car, a small basement apartment that reeked of mold, an oven that looked like it belonged in a doll house, and amoebas cruising around our intestines. What’s not to love?
Despite the down sides I felt incredibly fortunate. We may not have had a car, but we could afford taxis – a luxury to most Costa Ricans. We would pass families walking miles to get to their low paying jobs, some taking public transportation – usually on Fridays, as a weekend treat. And, although our house had mold, it also had a roof and glass windows and a tile floor. Across from the mall we frequented – a place built for the wealthy Americans who live in Costa Rica because of the low cost of living – was a shanty town, homes crammed together, sharing cardboard box walls and, if they were lucky, aluminum roofs to cover them during the six-month-long rainy season. But even those with actual houses or apartments lived without what Americans consider basic necessities. Some of our closest friends there – a couple who moved from Colombia to Costa Rica so their daughter could have a better life – lived in a tiny apartment without an oven. Meals were cooked on a hot plate, one dish at a time. Clothes were washed in the sink and dried in the sun.
Although the Costa Rican water system and sanitation are much better than most other third
world countries, we still managed to get quite sick quite often. I could feel my lungs being coated with black mold every time I took a breath, hear my kids hacking and coughing through the night as their tiny body bodies were trying to fight off constant infection. I spent many days curled up in a fetal position as tiny, invisible creatures wreaked havoc on my digestive tract. But, we had insurance and money, and we could purchase antibiotics and anti-amoeba medication. When it got really bad, we could go to the private hospital – the one for wealthy Americans – and be cared for by amazing doctors and nurses who spoke fluent English and didn’t have waiting lists for patients needing urgent care. I would walk around the city feeling guilty that I had enough Colones to buy a new shirt when I wanted, or go see a movie, or take a weekend trip to the beach. Most of the people that I saw could barely afford to keep their kids clothed and scrape together the money required to buy their school supplies every year. We passed beggars on the street daily, talked with them as they came to our door, children in tow, asking for some food or a drink. They’d take our offering of rice and beans or bananas gratefully, and I’d walk back into our apartment, watch our kids snacking on imported fruit roll-ups, feeling incredibly fortunate. Then we returned to the United States.
Because we are in ministry, our family is among the “poor:” we just have one car, we have to pinch our pennies to go out to Olive Garden once a month. I shop at Target and Ross, not at the mall. I look at friends who have motor homes and season passes to Disney World and a closet full of designer clothes and feel depressed. Discontent. It’s not fair! I don’t like having to check the family budget to see if we can afford to order pizza on a Friday night. I hate telling the kids they can’t have the shoes and clothes their friends have because we can’t afford them. I sit in my mold-free house, drinking my filtered water, constantly feeling sorry for myself. You’d think that remembering the shanty towns and the beggars would help me keep our “poverty” in perspective. It doesn’t. And I’m realizing that it doesn’t because the point in Paul’s command that we “be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11) doesn’t mean that I should feel superior to those around me any more than it means that I should feel inferior. It means that it shouldn’t matter. Having things shouldn’t matter. If I have lots – great. If I don’t – so what? They’re just things.
My happiness shouldn’t depend on what I can or cannot buy. So I guess moving back to Costa Rica isn’t the solution. And finding some new business venture that will have us rolling in greenbacks isn’t the answer, either (although, God, I’d be just fine if you were to allow for either possibility!). The answer is to be content. Whatever the circumstances. No matter what others around me do or do not have. The answer is choosing to be content instead of choosing to complain.
Krista McGee lives in Tampa – in a house with central air and no mold — working with her husband to raise their three kids, teaching English, and, in her spare time, writing.
14 Comments
I see a bit of whining and feeling sorry for yourself in this post. Why not get a second job, if you’re worried about food or clothing. I worked two jobs for years, went to graduate school and raised two children. I then worked 3 jobs so that I could retire, not worry about living expenses, travel and enjoy life. It was worth the extra effort. You might consider doing this. Living from hand to mouth is not fun. I lived in Central and South America for years. I know how they live. I would never want to live like that and certainly don’t long for that life.
Man, I don’t want to pile on here, but you seemed to miss the entire point of that article. The author specifically says she sits around feeling sorry for herself, and that the answer is to be content.
So being busy and overloaded with work is the answer? Sounds great, that’s definitely the “good life.” I might have to consider this.
obviously rp johns and mr. Rogers didn’t actually READ your article or they would see there isn’t ANYTHING about being busy or overloaded with work … OR any whining whatsoever! It’s an article about the realization of how we are supposed to live – what TRUE contentment means!! I liked it – thought it very well written and I could TOTALLY relate!!! Probably one of the hardest transitions to make from living overseas is to go from being a “rich” American (relative to the natives of that country) to being “poor” here in the States!!! – and the guilt that accompanies having all the “necessities” here when you know, first hand, how other people live elsewhere!! Being content in whatever life circumstances you are in … “rich” or “poor” – hard to do!! Thanks Krista for the reminder!!
Thanks for sharing the thought Krista. We all get swept up in a definition of comfort and success that’s just simply lacks poetry and hope, not to mention that our own push for financial success and supposed comfort has a way of oppressing those in the developing countries.
Thanks for sharing this. My wife and I are going through similar things right now–going from being missionaries overseas to looking for work. We weren’t in a third world country, but we did get used to living on less, and we assisted in short term trips to third world countries in Asia. That being the case, I love what you said about perspective. Good to hear.
Thanks for your thoughts. A sidenote: the term “third world” is, more and more, being recognized in social justice circles as hierarchical and a bit pejorative. Using the phrase “developing country” is a bit less so…
A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.
But who’s to say that it IS a developing country? PC terms used to describe things often do not actually describe them accurately. Such as referring to a black person as “African American.” Are they actually from, or are they of African descent? I think it’s less that the term is being recognized, and more that the term is being re-defined. Kind of like how terms like “retarded” are now considered offensive, when they simply used to be a definition, not intended to be demeaning or cruel.
Where do we stand on “global south”?
“Global South” is what’s most acceptable. In my experience, “developing nation” is sort of the middle ground between “third world” and “global south”. That is, it’s not as blatantly patronizing as “third world”, but people will know what you’re talking about. (I’ve gotten more than a few stares after using “global south” in conversation)
But as Jordan noted below, “developing” isn’t always the best in terms of accuracy. Global South is better in that respect. Although…Australia…
Josh’s suggestion isn’t bad, but “developing” seems off, since countries like Somalia are currently regressing.
Thank you for this article. I just got back from working in the slums of India and am thoroughly enjoying my comforts (Ben and Jerrys never tasted sweeter). I started to feel bad, wondering if I should be enjoying my life here this much and if I’m too dependent on my comforts. This article has given me much perspective. I think it’s ok- and biblical- to enjoy the blessings I have here, as long as I’m not being selfish and greedy with my money and maintain a global, godly focus. I go overseas to help better the lives of those living in desperate poverty but then feel bad that I don’t live in that same poverty. Seems backwards. This line is my takeaway, and I thank you for it: ” Having things shouldn’t matter. If I have lots – great. If I don’t – so what? They’re just things.”