I'm sitting at McDonald's in Korea again, but this time next to a young woman complaining to her friend about her boyfriend loud enough for me to overhear. She is saying that she wants to break up with her boyfriend essentially because he is poor. Of course she wouldn't come right out and say it bluntly like that but she is saying that his poor upbringing is affecting the way he spends (or not) money on her and that makes him a stingy person. Now get this. His father is apparently a professor of a major university in Seoul, so he cannot be poor. But apparently not rich enough for her taste. I must tell you that the McDonald's I'm sitting in is in Gangnam, which is the richest part of Korea (Yes. it's the same area that the song "Gangnam Sytle" is named after).
But you must also hear that conversation through my ears which spent a week with missionaries in Thailand who chose poverty so that others could be rich. The missionary couple, whose home Mrs. Lee and I stayed in, was often too poor to afford a hamburger for their children. They gave up everything in Korea to move to China, taking their small children, risking their future education, health, and social developments and not knowing if they will have continued monetary support for their mission work. Then, 7 years ago they moved to Thailand to further develop Chinese missionaries to send them all over the world. But doing it entirely on their own, only relying on the support they get from their family and friends... (Which are slowly ending, by the way) 
I have met countless other people in Thailand who live like beggars who don't have to. They are like Paul in the New Testament, making themselves poor so that others could be rich. They are like Peter who said to Jesus, "Lord, we have left everything to follow you!" They are dying to themselves so that others could live. I came away challenged and ashamed. Ashamed because I thought I have given up much for the Lord, but I see now that it cannot even begin to register as sacrifice in comparison. And challenged because I want to love the Lord and love people so much so that I'd give of myself more completely. 
Please do forgive me if I tend to be less patient than usual with those who are pursuing the American dream. I spent a week with young Chinese students who have given their lives to career mission, abdicating themselves to a far worse condition than what they have already been subjected to. One couple has a 2 year old and a brand new born... 
If you feel yourself to be miserable, please change your perspective; not your circumstances. Believe me. Your circumstances are far far better than most in this world.
PH