Many people tell me I really only about 8 - or act like it many days. I love to play pretend and color! Even at work my favorite phrase starts with "Can we... " I love to rearrange the furniture and change things up to keep it new and fresh. Color, music, movement, and nothing for too long. Imagination is a huge part of me.
Yet I am not always stuck in my 8 year old world. None of us are. Something makes all of us mature and grow up. Sometimes we want it... sometimes we don't. People say the world ages us. We have all seen pictures of children who seem much older and wiser than their years. It's the tough situations in life like poverty, hunger, violence, fear, anger, and injustice that age us.
Yet there are many of us who haven't experienced that side of life. Imagine the college frat boy whose parents pay for college and spends more time partying than studying. Now imagine the college boy who's father walked out on his pregnant mother before he was born who is working 4 jobs to support himself and his family as he goes through college. Who is "older"? Now imagine a 20 something old boy who is in a refugee camp trying to protect his family and get as much education as possible while being displaced and fighting for his daily needs. Who is "older"?
It's often hard for me to connect to the stories and parables of Jesus. I wonder what kind of a world he lived in. Obviously not a world where he grew up going to public school and had his own personal computer to blog his thoughts out to the world and keep up with his friends on facebook. The stories he tells relates to his life and the lives of the people similar to him. The broad concepts relate to my life - struggling with money, struggling with sin, not wanting to love my neighbor. And these are the ways the church and our church leaders teach us today. Yet their are significant differences.
Social Justice is a concept many "religious" people grab onto and run with or run from. For some it is what the gospel is all about. For some it has nothing to do with the gospel and how dare you try to make it. I believe social justice is something Jesus was all about.
Love your neighbor. Not just the one who lives next door or upstairs, but everyone on the planet. Get to know people who are different than you. A different race, culture, gender, religion. Don't judge. Share your beliefs and your belongings. Take care of the widows, the orphans, and the sick. Not just by throwing some money in a plate or towards a charity. Go out and do it. It can and may change your life. That's what Jesus did. He didn't give all his money to the synagogue and work towards becoming the next "Nazareth's Carpenter of the Year". Jesus went out and walked among God's children and told them that first - they were loved. Second - they needed to follow him.
I read an amazing book (almost in one day!) by Barbara Kingsolver called "The Bean Trees". It's an amazing story of a young girl whose goal is to get through high school without getting pregnant and make something of herself somewhere far away from home. She ends up going from Kentucky to Arizona and along the way "inherits" a small child. Once in Tucson she starts making a life for herself working at a tire repair shop that just also happens to be a safe house for Central American refugees. In my eyes, it's a story of how Taylor Greer grows up.
My favorite line is during a conversation with a friend who happens to be a refugee from Guatemala who has experienced some awful things in his life. After hearing his story Taylor says "I hate to say it, but I really don't know. I can't even being to think about a world where people have to make choices like that." Her friend replies - "You live in that world."
I live in that world. We say it all the time, especially faced with something beyond words difficult, I can't imagine... what that would be like, or I can't imagine a world where that happens.
We don't have to imagine it. It's here. The question is what do we do about it. What does our christian faith move in us to do about it?
Give.
Be there.
Go out and love people.
Not just go out and preach to people about how Jesus saves. I mean, yes Jesus saves. But if I was a widow walking to the drug store wondering about how I'm going to afford my medication and you handed me a pamphlet about God I might curse at you. If you walked with me and became my friend, perhaps helped me with my paperwork for healthcare I would say "God Bless You" and go to church if you invited me.
If I was a poor young adult struggling to find steady work to pay the bills and wondering what is good in this world and you tried to tell me Jesus was good I would ask you if he was hiring.
Meet basic needs.
Preserve human dignity.
Don't do it through a middle man - go out and make a friend.
The best way I know to not get lost in the imaginative world is to experience the real one. Don't keep yourself in a pretty imaginative world were everyone has what they need. Go out and live, love, and share the love of God.
In peace,
your sister in Christ~
Erin
Showing posts with label hurting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hurting. Show all posts
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
God is not a vending Machine
A very wise friend of mine told me one night -
"Erin, I have realized many things people try to make God into that he's not. For example, God is not a vending machine. People put in their good deeds and their righteous lives and expect blessings to follow in exactly their way. But it doesn't work that way. God is not a vending machine." (paraphrased.... )
Very sound theological advice actually. In my devo for the day I was reading from Psalm 79. The past few days have been from Jeremiah. Sigh... Jeremiah. My favorite prophet. Gosh I can't imagine being him. Trying to tell the hebrew people that they weren't doing what they should and that they would fail.
I love watching the kids I have taught go through teambuilding games. One of my favorite things for them to realize is that they don't like to be told what to do, so maybe... just maybe... they shouldn't tell others what to do. I can't imagine what Jeremiah ran up against. I'm sure the Hebrew people didn't appreciate him telling them what to do, or worse, that they would fail.
Then he lived through the Babylonian exile. Being a prophet is hard enough, but to predict bad things and then see them happen? I understand the words of the psalmist, how long will you let us suffer? I feel like our society is fairly used to suffering. We hear often of single parents struggling, unemployment, homelessness... but we also hear stories of people overcoming. We life those stories up and say look - you can do it!
But it's not that simple. (sorry... ) Every time we lift up someone who has made it, despite difficult times and situations; those of us who do have enough, who are food secure, who even have extra (like multiple cars and multiple TV's, and stocks, and... the list goes on) say to ourselves - "self, I don't have to give of my excess because I worked for it. That person made it, so can others". Sigh... that's not what its about.
We want God to give all of us our happily ever afters. Yes, we expect struggle and difficult times - for what would any story be like without that. We all have something we're up against. - I love that quote from The Freedom Writers. But like any good movie, we expect somehow for things to resolve and work their way out. If we pray enough. If we have enough faith. If we are generous and loving.
That's not what God is about. God is about love. Forgiving us for our sin and saving us. That doesn't mean our lives will end like a disney movie. It's not a simple introduction - building tension - climax - resolution story we all want so bad. Sometimes we just have to accept the cards we have been dealt and make the best lemonade with them.
My favorite prayer (Francis of Assisi)
"Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."
Yes, I hope for my happily ever after. Find love, serve the world, make a difference, raise some loving kids. But I try to keep in mind that my God is not a vending machine and accept all the burdens he blesses me with as well as the treasures.
In peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin
"Erin, I have realized many things people try to make God into that he's not. For example, God is not a vending machine. People put in their good deeds and their righteous lives and expect blessings to follow in exactly their way. But it doesn't work that way. God is not a vending machine." (paraphrased.... )
Very sound theological advice actually. In my devo for the day I was reading from Psalm 79. The past few days have been from Jeremiah. Sigh... Jeremiah. My favorite prophet. Gosh I can't imagine being him. Trying to tell the hebrew people that they weren't doing what they should and that they would fail.
I love watching the kids I have taught go through teambuilding games. One of my favorite things for them to realize is that they don't like to be told what to do, so maybe... just maybe... they shouldn't tell others what to do. I can't imagine what Jeremiah ran up against. I'm sure the Hebrew people didn't appreciate him telling them what to do, or worse, that they would fail.
Then he lived through the Babylonian exile. Being a prophet is hard enough, but to predict bad things and then see them happen? I understand the words of the psalmist, how long will you let us suffer? I feel like our society is fairly used to suffering. We hear often of single parents struggling, unemployment, homelessness... but we also hear stories of people overcoming. We life those stories up and say look - you can do it!
But it's not that simple. (sorry... ) Every time we lift up someone who has made it, despite difficult times and situations; those of us who do have enough, who are food secure, who even have extra (like multiple cars and multiple TV's, and stocks, and... the list goes on) say to ourselves - "self, I don't have to give of my excess because I worked for it. That person made it, so can others". Sigh... that's not what its about.
We want God to give all of us our happily ever afters. Yes, we expect struggle and difficult times - for what would any story be like without that. We all have something we're up against. - I love that quote from The Freedom Writers. But like any good movie, we expect somehow for things to resolve and work their way out. If we pray enough. If we have enough faith. If we are generous and loving.
That's not what God is about. God is about love. Forgiving us for our sin and saving us. That doesn't mean our lives will end like a disney movie. It's not a simple introduction - building tension - climax - resolution story we all want so bad. Sometimes we just have to accept the cards we have been dealt and make the best lemonade with them.
My favorite prayer (Francis of Assisi)
"Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."
Yes, I hope for my happily ever after. Find love, serve the world, make a difference, raise some loving kids. But I try to keep in mind that my God is not a vending machine and accept all the burdens he blesses me with as well as the treasures.
In peace,
your sister in Christ~Erin
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Love and Struggle
I am so filled with emotion, often I don't know how to make anything of myself!!
I am a thinker. I have tried to stop, or at least tone it down - with little to no success. And I am also a hopeless romantic and lover. I will love, to the best of my ability, everyone who crosses my path. =)
My personality is caring I suppose, but there are a few places when I feel completely myself. When I am singing, caring for another, teaching or learning. These tendencies have lead me to the church where I have met a God who has become the lover of my soul. This love is what keeps me going and gives me energy to go out and love others - it is a love that completes me. I have also fallen in love with the church, but it is not a perfect love. As I was reading "Saints and Villains" today - a fiction book about the like of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I read a passage about him falling in love with the church seemed to echo my own thoughts. I feel like I love the church like Hosea loved Gomer. I have fallen in love with the people of the church and what the church is about. To have the security that there is a whole group of people out there who will love me because I am a child of God. No other reason. That there is a group of people out there who are willing to give everything to serve. Yet sometimes I do not love what the church does, I still have this unexplainable love for the body of Christ.
Yet this love and knowledge leads to so much internal struggle for me. I suppose it is because I want everything to be good for everyone and the more I learn the more I know it's not so. The more I read some of the things people of the church say it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart to see the church pick and choose who they deem appropriate and who they disregard. It breaks my heart to see the dicotomy of the rich and the poor.
I don't want to preach, but somehow I feel like that is because what I have to say isn't going to be well received. I want to hang out with my friends and spend a carefree afternoon like any other young American. Like any other young American of privilege.
I was born to privilege. I see that now. I can't hate myself because of it or my family. I love the opportunities and education they gave to me. But I can't just sit around happily watching a movie, going to work, and hanging out with my friends. Not when I know so many of my brothers and sisters are starving in poverty, oppressed, and abused. The church can't either. The more we do, the more it breaks my heart.
But I don't know how to change, I know I must. I must leave everything and follow Christ. Right now I have committed myself to study. Study the scriptures, study the saints, study the needs of my world. But after I have studied (yes even seminary) I want to LIVE. I want to live among the rest of the world and care for them with my heart, my hands, my head, and my love.
But I don't think my calling is to serve alone. As I try to discern my calling I feel that there needs to be a connection to the American church of today. A way of helping people discover themselves, how to connect with others (for love is all about healthy relationships!!!), learn about their passion, and put them in an opportunity to live a life of service as well.
I am enjoying learning. I have a stack of library books so high it seems daunting yet so thrilling of the inspiration and enlightenment awaiting for me there. It's just that the stories found there do pull at my heart and make me want to get out of my comfortable house and do something about it!!! (even if it happened 100 + years ago...)
Dear Lord, lover of my soul, to one to already knows my every thought, every care, every burden - I pray for your children around the world. I pray that you wrap them in your arms and meet their every need. I pray that your children hear your gentle calling to be disciples and accept the difficulties and gifts that come along with that life. I pray for wisdom and patience as I find my way to a closer walk with you. Amen.
In peace with love,
your sister in Christ~Erin
I am a thinker. I have tried to stop, or at least tone it down - with little to no success. And I am also a hopeless romantic and lover. I will love, to the best of my ability, everyone who crosses my path. =)
My personality is caring I suppose, but there are a few places when I feel completely myself. When I am singing, caring for another, teaching or learning. These tendencies have lead me to the church where I have met a God who has become the lover of my soul. This love is what keeps me going and gives me energy to go out and love others - it is a love that completes me. I have also fallen in love with the church, but it is not a perfect love. As I was reading "Saints and Villains" today - a fiction book about the like of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I read a passage about him falling in love with the church seemed to echo my own thoughts. I feel like I love the church like Hosea loved Gomer. I have fallen in love with the people of the church and what the church is about. To have the security that there is a whole group of people out there who will love me because I am a child of God. No other reason. That there is a group of people out there who are willing to give everything to serve. Yet sometimes I do not love what the church does, I still have this unexplainable love for the body of Christ.
Yet this love and knowledge leads to so much internal struggle for me. I suppose it is because I want everything to be good for everyone and the more I learn the more I know it's not so. The more I read some of the things people of the church say it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart to see the church pick and choose who they deem appropriate and who they disregard. It breaks my heart to see the dicotomy of the rich and the poor.
I don't want to preach, but somehow I feel like that is because what I have to say isn't going to be well received. I want to hang out with my friends and spend a carefree afternoon like any other young American. Like any other young American of privilege.
I was born to privilege. I see that now. I can't hate myself because of it or my family. I love the opportunities and education they gave to me. But I can't just sit around happily watching a movie, going to work, and hanging out with my friends. Not when I know so many of my brothers and sisters are starving in poverty, oppressed, and abused. The church can't either. The more we do, the more it breaks my heart.
But I don't know how to change, I know I must. I must leave everything and follow Christ. Right now I have committed myself to study. Study the scriptures, study the saints, study the needs of my world. But after I have studied (yes even seminary) I want to LIVE. I want to live among the rest of the world and care for them with my heart, my hands, my head, and my love.
But I don't think my calling is to serve alone. As I try to discern my calling I feel that there needs to be a connection to the American church of today. A way of helping people discover themselves, how to connect with others (for love is all about healthy relationships!!!), learn about their passion, and put them in an opportunity to live a life of service as well.
I am enjoying learning. I have a stack of library books so high it seems daunting yet so thrilling of the inspiration and enlightenment awaiting for me there. It's just that the stories found there do pull at my heart and make me want to get out of my comfortable house and do something about it!!! (even if it happened 100 + years ago...)
Dear Lord, lover of my soul, to one to already knows my every thought, every care, every burden - I pray for your children around the world. I pray that you wrap them in your arms and meet their every need. I pray that your children hear your gentle calling to be disciples and accept the difficulties and gifts that come along with that life. I pray for wisdom and patience as I find my way to a closer walk with you. Amen.
In peace with love,
your sister in Christ~Erin
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