Yes... indeed I did!
Frogs are interesting creatures.
They are green, slimy, & gross to most people.
My sister-in-law detests them...my boys like to do gross things to them...
my cat likes to chase them...7th graders dissect them... fairytales tell us to kiss them...and some people even like to eat them!
There has always been this old adage about if you put a frog in a pot of cold water & turn up the heat gradually, the frog will not notice & will eventually face his fate... death by boiling!
He will not sense danger... he will not jump out!
Recently, some new friends asked how we liked living in Venezuela & how we thought we were adjusting after being here for 4 years.
My response was simple...
We are like frogs in a pot!
They didn't understand my humor.
Apparently that old frog story is not cross cultural!
I explained what I meant...
that we were adapting & adjusting fine, but sometimes we felt like we were sitting in the pot of water & the heat was rising but we were somehow not aware.
I explained that we have to be careful. We don't want to eventually be cooked because we have become too comfortable or complacent of the things around us.
Their response was insane laughter as they imagined a pot of frogs literally "croaking" in a pot of boiling water.
For that moment, they thought I was the most profound thinker they had ever met!
I tried to explain that it was an analogy used frequently in the states but the laughter overshadowed my words.
Now every time we see each other they always ask me...
"How are the frogs doing today?"
I will never forget that moment.
A moment of laughter... a moment of cultural craziness... and a moment of wondering...
"How many people around the world are actually frogs in a pot?"
It is common for missionaries to feel this way.
We must adapt to new cultures, customs, foods, languages, governments, etc... and sometimes we become so adapted that we miss the reality of what is actually happening around us.
Other times, we become comfortable & complacent because we can't imagine our lives outside of the pot we are in.
Where jumping from pot to pot when the water gets warm is not always the best scenario either, we need to keep our spiritual eyes open & our senses alert to our surroundings, always listening for God's direction, being aware of the external things we need & feel, letting our noses lead us into things that are good & worthwhile, not gossipy or none of our business, & tasting the fruits of the spirit...not chewing on negativity & using harsh words.
Our "frog like" selves need to find contentment in the pot where we live,
but may we not confuse contentment with comfort & complacency.
Contentment is satisfaction or ease of mind; happiness.
Complacency is the feeling of pleasure or security all while being unaware of potential dangers.
It is important to pray daily for missionaries & for all of the struggles we face, whether it be physical, emotional, financial, or those simple daily struggles like going to the grocery store! Ugh...that one's rough right now!
But if you don't mind taking advice from a fellow frog...
Never forget that we are all living our lives in the pots of ministry, work, families, etc.
It's not only missionaries that face the risk of being cooked in a pot!
As our world is in a state of chaos from country to country, please pray for all of the "frogs" out there that just might be so complacent with their surroundings, that they are unaware of the potential dangers around them.
Death by boiling!
I couldn't resist using this picture that was going around fb!
What a mental picture this is! *laugh*
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