{"id":1158,"date":"2017-08-05T08:20:01","date_gmt":"2017-08-05T12:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/?p=1158"},"modified":"2026-08-02T18:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T23:55:30","slug":"why-have-you-come","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/2017\/08\/05\/why-have-you-come\/","title":{"rendered":"Why have you come?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes it’s hard to keep my eyes on the big picture. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details of life: to worry about all the things that need to be done before I can FINALLY move into the village one of these days instead of realizing what a great honor and privilege and answer to prayer it is to be able to serve there. The other day I read this poem on Wycliffe’s website (www.wycliffe.org\/blog\/posts\/why-have-you-come<\/a>), which encouraged me that even in the hard times (and to be honest there are lots of them!) it’s ok because God is working slowly, slowly, towards the end goal. May you be encouraged by this poem, and also be challenged to continue to pray for us whose life is like what’s described in it (except the candle part – we now have solar lanterns when the electricity is out).<\/p>\n

WHY HAVE YOU COME?<\/p>\n

(Originally published in the 1955 issue of “Translation” magazine, this poem by William Atherton captures the emotions of a Bible translator and his relationship with a local man who wants to know why the translator has come.)<\/p>\n

Low burned the candle in the room
\nAs o’er the table bent the scribe,
\nIntently working on a book,
\nIn language strange – a pagan tribe.<\/p>\n

But now a stranger entered in.
\nThe writer rose to greet his guest,
\nAnd after usual pleasantries,
\nThe stranger said with marked int’rest,
\n“Pray tell me, friend, just why it is
\nYou’ve left your home and friends and land
\nTo journey to this far-off place
\nOf mountains, jungles, rocks and sand
\nTo live among a people strange,
\nWhose ways and words are stranger still.
\nThese things I cannot understand,
\nNor think I that I ever will.
\nEach day, along with daily food,
\nYou get your share of sneers and jeers;
\nYou’re ridiculed, misunderstood,
\nAnd oftentimes reduced to tears.<\/p>\n

“And these things my own eyes behold –
\nI little know your soul’s deep pains
\nOccasioned by a thousandfold
\nDaily troubles, hurts and strains,
\nAnd you, I fear, would have to say,
\n(If all the truth would really out),
\nThat numbered up among your foes
\nAre cruel discouragement and doubt.<\/p>\n

“Now, even I plainly see
\nThat fame or gain is not your goal;
\nTheir paths are far from here.”
\nHe smiled. The thought seemed somewhat droll.
\n“And midst it all, with single eye,
\nYou hourly, daily toil away
\nOn that strange book on yonder desk.
\nWhy then or why is this, I say?”
\nThe stranger ceased. He’d had his say.
\nHe settled back for the reply.<\/p>\n

The scribe, with mounting pleasure, said:
\n“Good friend, I’ll gladly tell you why.
\n‘Tis true, ’tis true, each word you’ve said.
\nAnd more, much more than that beside;
\nBut ere I traveled to this place,
\nI knew that oft I would be tried –
\n(Though I’ll confess I never dreamt
\nThe Master’s lessons were so steep
\nThat I scarce knew the alphabet.
\nE’en now the thought fair makes me weep).
\nBut, as I say, your words are true,
\nAnd there’s no use them to deny.
\nNor to refute, nor answer back;
\nI understand the ‘what and why.’
\nBut to your questions let us turn.”
\nAt this with loving hands he took
\nHis work from off the desk and said:
\n“The answer’s found right here – this Book.
\nLook! Look! Here’s the Word of Life,
\nNo longer in a foreign tongue,
\nBut in the old familiar words
\nUsed by these people old and young.
\nSo jests, or sneers, or rage mean
\nNought when daily grows this sacred Tome.
\nEach line, each page so richly wrought
\nWith golden threads of help from home.
\nAnd you must know that for each foe,
\nTen friends have I my heart to cheer,
\nAnd prayer and love from them rise up
\nTo guard my soul from pain and fear.
\n“And best of all, my Saviour’s here –
\nCompanion on life’s rugged way.
\nSo ’tis no wonder, my dear friend,
\nThat I am willing here to stay.<\/p>\n

“Then, some day, when this Book’s complete,
\nI’ll bring it as an offering,
\nAs when the wise men came of old
\nAnd paid to him their homage deep,
\nWith rich, rare gifts; and shepherds too,
\nIn awesome reverence brought a sheep.
\nI know not how those gifts were used.
\nNor do I ask. Our King is wise;
\nAnd each gift finds its proper use
\nTo lead men to the heavenly prize.<\/p>\n

“And so ’twill be with this, my gift.
\nHe’ll take it, bless it, give it wings
\nTo reach and make these far-off folk
\nGlad subjects of the King of Kings.
\nThen I will sing on the glad day,
\nWhen round His Throne the saints do stand;
\nFor I will greet those who rejoiced
\nTo have this Book placed in their hand.”<\/p>\n

The weary lines which etched his face,
\nTo happiness had given place,
\nAnd ere the scribe had stopped his speech,
\nBright tears of joy, streamed down his face.
\nThe candle glowed, the room grew still.
\nThe stranger rose and clasped his hand.
\n“My thanks, kind friend, for telling me.
\nThe Book! God’s Book! I understand!”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes it’s hard to keep my eyes on the big picture. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details of life: to worry about all the things that need to be done before I can FINALLY move into the village one of these days instead of realizing what a great honor and privilege and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":945,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[448],"class_list":["post-1158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-uncategorized","tag-ethnos360","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/945"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1158"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1158\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/susie-l\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}