Weekend Musings...
Yesterday I spent ALL day getting from the West Coast back home. I was hoping to be bumped (again, OK, so call me greedy...) but wasn't successful. But I did have really interesting conversation in Chicago during a lengthy layover.
It was just what my soul needed. I called a friend to talk about some of the amazing thoughts, ideas and beliefs reverberating inside my head and mentioned Erwin McManus' name on the phone. Well, it turns out someone who wasn't even supposed to be in the Chicago airport at that moment in time, let alone within ear shot of my conversation overheard me simply mention my name and decided to hang out and introduce himself. His name is Jeremy and he was just on his way home from Amsterdam. He had worked there as a missionary and church planter for eight years and as a matter of fact knows Bob and Mim Phillips, missionaries our church supports. We had a wonderfully encouraging conversation that was a blessing to both of us.
Then I also had a conversation with a couple of guys from a United Church of Christ that a pretty fundamentalist guy eavesdropped on and made his opinions known. It didn't represent the love of Christ to me and left me feeling very awkward. It just didn't seem quite right to be finger pointing so early in the conversation...
I was happy to hug it up with my family when I got home. The house did look like a category five storm had swept through and I have the pictures to prove it, too, but decided to pass on those for the time being.
Worship was magnificent this morning, but soul piercing for me. I have come away from the last three days with a much deeper appreciation for how much God loves me, and how pathetic I am at sharing that love with others. It prompted me to decide that I think I may agree to share one morning while our pastor is on sabbatical about love and I Corinthians 13. Bart Campolo's tag line on his blog is: Love God. Love People. That's all that matters. What are your thoughts about that? Too little? Does it cover it all? But raw love that is patient and kind, doesn't hold a grudge and doesn't keep score of wrongs is a rare thing.
And then in the evening I participated in a prayer and discernment gathering for a non-traditional church plant that a group of us from my church have been gestating for nine months now. I am dancing the Moses Dance big time, let me tell you... Who me?A church planter? No thanks, I don't think so...but the more I immerse myself in this process the more strongly drawn I feel. Big sigh.
In the meantime I have scheduled two writing days a week at a local basilica as my retreat home not too far away from home.
Peace.
It was just what my soul needed. I called a friend to talk about some of the amazing thoughts, ideas and beliefs reverberating inside my head and mentioned Erwin McManus' name on the phone. Well, it turns out someone who wasn't even supposed to be in the Chicago airport at that moment in time, let alone within ear shot of my conversation overheard me simply mention my name and decided to hang out and introduce himself. His name is Jeremy and he was just on his way home from Amsterdam. He had worked there as a missionary and church planter for eight years and as a matter of fact knows Bob and Mim Phillips, missionaries our church supports. We had a wonderfully encouraging conversation that was a blessing to both of us.
Then I also had a conversation with a couple of guys from a United Church of Christ that a pretty fundamentalist guy eavesdropped on and made his opinions known. It didn't represent the love of Christ to me and left me feeling very awkward. It just didn't seem quite right to be finger pointing so early in the conversation...
I was happy to hug it up with my family when I got home. The house did look like a category five storm had swept through and I have the pictures to prove it, too, but decided to pass on those for the time being.
Worship was magnificent this morning, but soul piercing for me. I have come away from the last three days with a much deeper appreciation for how much God loves me, and how pathetic I am at sharing that love with others. It prompted me to decide that I think I may agree to share one morning while our pastor is on sabbatical about love and I Corinthians 13. Bart Campolo's tag line on his blog is: Love God. Love People. That's all that matters. What are your thoughts about that? Too little? Does it cover it all? But raw love that is patient and kind, doesn't hold a grudge and doesn't keep score of wrongs is a rare thing.
And then in the evening I participated in a prayer and discernment gathering for a non-traditional church plant that a group of us from my church have been gestating for nine months now. I am dancing the Moses Dance big time, let me tell you... Who me?A church planter? No thanks, I don't think so...but the more I immerse myself in this process the more strongly drawn I feel. Big sigh.
In the meantime I have scheduled two writing days a week at a local basilica as my retreat home not too far away from home.
Peace.
Labels: Church Planting, Erwin McManus, God's love, I Corinthians
posted by www.kathypride.com at
10:39 PM
9 Comments:
I don't have time to dig it up now, I think it is in Corinthians somewhere, but a good friend of mine once gave a sermon on a scripture about loving wisely. He talked about in his failed 20-year marriage, how he always approached their problems by trying to love MORE (passionately)rather than trying to love more wisely.
We have lots of panhandlers in the big city near us and I have heard, and am still pondering over the debate. Do you give them money or food or try to help? If you give them money and they take it to buy alchol to support their addiction, are you really helping them? (you can usually tell the ones who are alcholics). Some say that we should help with what they really NEED (which often we can't because they are choosing to avoid the services set up to help them because of mental illness or wounds or addictions or whatever) and some say we should give them what they ask for, and it is THEIR responsibility how they use it. What is your take on this? I'm still debating, and I don't think there is a right answer, but only a case-by-case, do-as-you-are-led one.
I will tell a story that sticks in my mind though. I had missed lunch one day and had dropped off my daughter at her ballet class, then gone to get a burger at Arby's and they had a buy-one-get-one-free deal going on, so I took advantage of it. I was thinking to myself, I don't NEED this second burger, Lord. Why did I get it? (the frugal in me). I was in an area of town I don't normally go to, to look at a consignment shop and a woman came up to me and asked for money saying she was really hungry. I told her, truthfully, that I didn't have any money, but I did have a burger, would she like it. She accepted it almost angrily, like I was giving her rotten leftovers. She took it and walked away. But it was still very warm, and once she realized this, she tore into it and I could tell she really was hungry.
I"m sure that picture of "ungratefulness" (at least initially) and passionate eating of one who is truly hungry will stick with me forever. It was clearly, to me, that God intended that second sandwich for her.
I wonder how many times it happened to Jesus that he gave people what they needed, but not what they thought they wanted.....
PS...please forgive my many typos...I'm not feeling well today...I do know that alcohol has two o's...and others.....
Amazing example Kara! I, too, feel that we need to give them what they need. I have a friend who was often in big cities where there would be a lot of homeless and people asking for money. He came up with a plan he could feel good about. If he had time, he offered to take them out to a nearby diner or burger joint, which often ended up with him praying for them. If he was in a hurry, he carried $5 (or $10?) gift cards to McDonalds and gave those out.
Hey, Kathy! I was in NJ when you called, and didn't hear my cell. I am free almost all week while steve is in ecaudor, if you want to come over for coffee or hang out just give me a call, ok? I was really bummed I missed you, but looks like God had it all planned out anyway! Love ya!
I guess, when I look at how Jesus dealt with "beggars", he didn't ever give them money and say to them "God bless you, go in peace." But he healed them of what was causing them to beg--blindness or lameness or demons.
His disciples could cast out demons..why can't we? And I wish I could spit in the mud and put it on a person's eye and cure their blindness (and not get sued).
I wish I had the wisdom to see what people need...it's often not just food, but a home, healing of relationships, something productive to do, self-esteem....
I feel so helpless...but WOW, what if we could take dominion over creation like that, go around healing what needed to be healed...what kind of impact would THAT have on the world?? and could we handle it personally?
Well, since we're all reminiscing here, these are two things I have done in the last several years: A man (stranger) rang our doorbell and attempted to sell me some magazine subscriptions so he could meet some self-help goal (that I no longer remember). I renewed my Oprah subscription with him and got a magazine for each of the kids. Fine, right? But I noticed that although he was dressed in an suit (probably borrowed, as it was ill-fitting), he had very dirty, worn sneakers on. I knew he was trying to make a good business-like impression, and as he left my house to visit my neighbors, I went upstairs to my son's closet and found a pair of dress shoes that he no longer wore (and were nearly new). I got in the car to try to find the young man and offered him the shoes and he humbly and gratefully accepted.
Another time, I was driving Josh (owner of aforementioned shoes) to a swim meet in an unfamiliar place and we drove by a beggar at an intersection. I thought how cold it was outside and felt bad I had no cash (I rarely carry it). After dropping Josh off, I returned past that same intersection and thought one thing I could give him was a nice warm hat (of Joshua's, of course) that was in the back seat. It was even "cool" -- some sort of desirable name brand, and again, nearly new. So I U-turned to drive by the man again and offered him the hat. He put it on right away and was very grateful.
There are two old family stories on my dad's side that I heard many times growing up. During the Depression, my grandfather suffered much less than most in the small town in northern NY that both my parents, and then I, grew up in. My grandfather operated a local lumber mill and employed many in the town. Sometimes he would see his employees, who he knew to be barely getting by, helping themselves to a little scrap wood, presumably to use for heat at home. He never said a thing, although he was certainly within his rights to at least chastise them, if not outright fire them.
He also apparently once literally gave a shivering man his own coat that he was wearing -- right off his back.
My dad (his son) worked for him as a teen, and told the story of how everyone brought a lunch from home (no workplace cafeterias or money for them even if there were any). He had brought a nice fat roast beef sandwich. The guy next to him had a thin sandwich and looked hungry. My dad claimed to want to trade halves with this guy -- charity which allowed the guy to save face. As he bit into the guy's half of -- and I am not making this up -- his onion peel sandwich, he (my dad) showed great delight and pleasure at its taste, knowing full well that the meat in his half might be the only meat the other guy had that day (or days).
Both my parents always (and my mom still is, my dad having died a year and a half ago) been great contributors to local charities, not just giving money, but time and knowledge as well. My dad was a first-class fundraiser and had lots of connections to get large donations for a variety of causes.
I was raised to believe that volunteerism and giving to others was a duty of a good, moral human and have tried my best to live up to their examples.
My next project, once my healing from my recent surgery is complete, is to volunteer as a baby holder in our local hospital. I remember when my twins were in NICU, that there were lots of crying babies left alone because the nurses were busy meeting their medical needs and the parents couldn't be at the hospital all day long. Ever since then, I thought that that would be something I could do to make a difference. Just sit in a rocker and hold a preemie or sick baby.
Love,
Katy
Oh, so many wonderful thoughts...Mine are coming soon, I promise! I am finishing up my writing quota from yesterday that I didn't hit and then today, the rest of it is my day "at home" to catch up with laundry, load the recycling in the car, etc. etc.
Be back soon.
Kathy
Kathy,
Thank you so much for commenting on my blog posting! I'm sitting here in the middle of my category 5 house after having just tucking my little boy into bed...we spent too much time tickling today to worry about the mess. Nice to know there's another woman out there who has her priorities straight :)Your postings are so well written, and I'm excited to delve deeper into them. I actually believe you may be an answer to prayer for me and would love to speak with you further. My email is kathylynnstock@hotmail.com
Thanks so much for clicking on my site. I look forward to tuning in regularly to yours.
-Kathy (www.kathysbligityblog.blogspot.com)
Sorry, I lied, I never made it back soon...but at least I made it. I have become much more passionate about meeting people's needs, or trying to anyway. I think it is almost a cop out to give money. It kind of absolves one of having to have more of a connection. But if you really try to connect with a need, well that might get a little messy or time consuming, but that is what the life of the Samaritan is about. (Another book idea I want to pursue...)
I have a couple of stories that come to mind. One was in VA last summer, by the WalMart near where we go to Smith Mountain Lake. There was a guy by his car holding a sign that said, hungry, no job. So I drove around, stopped to chat with him and then went to the McD's and bought a meal. We later bumped into him again outside my favorite store in the plaza, the Goodwill. We did converse and it was a reminder about how quickly someone can become homeless.
We don't have such an issue with that where I live, but years ago when I was in SF with Matt (we were with Howie at a meeting) there were lots of homeless along the pier walk area.One guy in particular also had a dog, and it opened a fabulous discussion about how do people become homeless? And that is even more alarming, and easier in today's economy. I try not to give money, but rather food, or like Katy a hat, or something warm.
I also remember another trip to a conference in SF where we were at a reception and when it was over there was a ton of food left over that was just going to go in the trash. It killed me, so I asked if I could pack it up and pack it up I did, in several little to go containers that I dispensed to the homeless on the walk back to the hotel.
We can all do something. It is back to the belief that if we all just cared for just one other person, we could transform the world.
Go out and be a transformer.
P.S. Just to clarify one of my stories -- I remembered after I posted yesterday about the sandwich my dad shared with the struggling WORKING man next to him -- it wasn't just onion peels, but onion peels and potato peelings. Imaging his poor wife trying to do her best to make a lunch for her husband out of what we put down the garbage disposal. I hope we aren't about to plunge into that sort of Depression again. I have so much hope now that Obama is our President-Elect.
Love,
Katy
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