Sometimes a small but significant truth sneaks up on you and completely shifts your paradigm. It changes the way you see God, yourself, and your life.
This has happened to me recently. I've been reading the book The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. I'm only about halfway through it, but it has really challenged me. For a long time I've been entertaining thoughts about why many Western Christians live such isolated lives bound up in consumerism and wealth. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that obtaining more wealth and more stuff for yourself is not really the way Jesus encouraged people to live. Sure, we talk a good game about giving to people in need. We may even donate money to charities or items to the Salvation Army. It's even tax deductible, so we're helping others and ourselves. (Picture me rolling my eyes while I say that.)
But how often do most of us actually go out and intentionally place ourselves among the impoverished or homeless or suffering? Giving to charity is a great thing, of course, but it's also a very sterile, keep-your-hands-clean way of helping others. In the book I'm reading, Shane asks how it might change the world if Christians start living like Jesus actually meant the things he said. Instead of keeping ourselves as separated as we can from people who are in need, why not move out of our comfort zones and spend time among them, as Jesus did? If God incarnate chose to spend his time on earth living among the poor, sick, and suffering, why aren't God's followers doing the same? Somehow I don’t think merely living in the same world, state, or city as them is really what Jesus was talking about. He had relationships with people in need.
I am beginning to realize that in every human interaction I have, whether with family, friends, neighbors, or total strangers, there is something deeper going on. I can actually be used to show God's love to others. This isn't something I can do on my own, but God can use me. Being a Christian isn't just about eternal life, although that's a part of it. Simply "being" a Christian isn't a very fulfilling life, in my experience. But living out your faith by following Jesus' words... oh, it's challenging, it's uncomfortable, and it's not easy-- but it's good.
I want God to love others through me. I'm tired of being complacent. I'm tired of being your average American Christian. I'm tired of sitting inside these walls (literally and figuratively) instead of going out and actively loving my neighbor. As I've mentioned before, love is not just a cute little feeling you have for people-it's an action.
I pray that God will use me to touch others lives. I want God's love to be shown through me-- to Clark, to Elijah, to my family members, to my friends, to my neighbors, to people I meet at the store, to other people driving down the road (um, that one's going to be difficult for me), and definitely to the poor, homeless, hungry, and sick. "The least of these," Jesus called them. He did tell us that "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me," and he went on to add, "whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Please don't come by here and leave me a comment telling me that this is an interesting idea or a great idea. It wasn't my idea. In fact, even though I would (and do) recommend The Irresistible Revolution to anyone who's reading this post, it wasn't Shane's idea either. It was God's idea. And it's the way I want to start living my life. I can make all the changes I've been talking about in the past few posts, but if the intent behind it isn't to make myself better able to love others the way Jesus told me to, then even these changes are just a disguised form of selfishness-- making myself a better person so I'll feel better about myself.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
When the ideal and reality don't match up
I’ve mentioned in previous posts that Lent is a lot more than just giving something up for 40 days. It’s a time to reconnect with God, to get your priorities back in order, and to work on being the person God wants you to be. Of course, this can be done at any time of the year, not just during Lent, but this year I learned about Lent at the same time that I was doing some serious thinking about things I need to change. What needs to change in my life for me to be the person God has called me to be?
For the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my priorities. If you ask most people to name their top priorities, they will probably say something along the lines of, “God, my family, my job,” and continue down the list from there. If you asked me about my priorities, I would be likely to say the same thing—but during my moments of pure honesty with myself, I realize that these are the things I know my priorities should be, but often they are not the things in which I actually invest the most time and energy. My ideal and reality don’t match up, and that is something that must change.
Step one for me is to identify the things that need to change. During prayer and reflection, I have thought of many areas in my life that could use some work. I feel that oftentimes I am selfish, thinking more about my own wants and needs than the wants and needs of those around me. Laziness has taken too prominent a place in my daily life, and I don’t accomplish things that need to be accomplished. Relationships need to change, and the problems of selfishness and laziness definitely contribute to the issues that need to change in my relationships—especially my relationships with Clark and Elijah. I’ve noticed that I spend too much time focusing on things that aren’t really important. A big one for me is wasting time online. While the internet is certainly not a bad thing in itself, it has begun to take up too much of my time, and the result is that I don’t spend enough of my time focusing on my family and my work as a stay-at-home mom. Also, as I wrote in my last post, I have not done nearly enough to help others who desperately need help, such as the poor, the hungry, the sick, and so on. And I need to take better care of the body I've been given; I need to put nutritious things in it rather than anything and everything I want.
When I read back over the paragraph I just wrote, one particular problem stands out to me—selfishness. I realize I could be more selfish than I am; the problem is that I could stand to be much less selfish than I am. I want to take the focus off of myself and put it on God and others. I don’t think I am unnecessarily imposing this concept on myself; focusing on God and others is a commandment that was emphasized by Jesus. This is the very topic that was addressed at the church service I went to this morning, and it came at a very relevant time for me. In Matthew 22, an expert in the law asked Jesus to tell him what the greatest commandment was. Jesus responded, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
And this brings me to the concept of love. What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Does it mean to think kind thoughts about other people? Sure, but it’s more than that. Love is not a thought or a feeling; it is an action. Loving others involves doing something. It involves putting at least as much focus on them as you would put on yourself. Selfishness is focusing more on yourself than others. I want to focus at least as much on those around me as I do on myself, if not more. In practical terms, this is going to mean flipping my actual priorities upside down. The things I have been spending the most time on need to be moved to the bottom of the list to make room for the things that are truly important.
Next time I’m going to write about the process of realigning my priorities and establishing new priorities. What are my top priorities? What is important but not a top priority? And what is not really that important at all? What will realigning my priorities look like practically in daily life?
For the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my priorities. If you ask most people to name their top priorities, they will probably say something along the lines of, “God, my family, my job,” and continue down the list from there. If you asked me about my priorities, I would be likely to say the same thing—but during my moments of pure honesty with myself, I realize that these are the things I know my priorities should be, but often they are not the things in which I actually invest the most time and energy. My ideal and reality don’t match up, and that is something that must change.
Step one for me is to identify the things that need to change. During prayer and reflection, I have thought of many areas in my life that could use some work. I feel that oftentimes I am selfish, thinking more about my own wants and needs than the wants and needs of those around me. Laziness has taken too prominent a place in my daily life, and I don’t accomplish things that need to be accomplished. Relationships need to change, and the problems of selfishness and laziness definitely contribute to the issues that need to change in my relationships—especially my relationships with Clark and Elijah. I’ve noticed that I spend too much time focusing on things that aren’t really important. A big one for me is wasting time online. While the internet is certainly not a bad thing in itself, it has begun to take up too much of my time, and the result is that I don’t spend enough of my time focusing on my family and my work as a stay-at-home mom. Also, as I wrote in my last post, I have not done nearly enough to help others who desperately need help, such as the poor, the hungry, the sick, and so on. And I need to take better care of the body I've been given; I need to put nutritious things in it rather than anything and everything I want.
When I read back over the paragraph I just wrote, one particular problem stands out to me—selfishness. I realize I could be more selfish than I am; the problem is that I could stand to be much less selfish than I am. I want to take the focus off of myself and put it on God and others. I don’t think I am unnecessarily imposing this concept on myself; focusing on God and others is a commandment that was emphasized by Jesus. This is the very topic that was addressed at the church service I went to this morning, and it came at a very relevant time for me. In Matthew 22, an expert in the law asked Jesus to tell him what the greatest commandment was. Jesus responded, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
And this brings me to the concept of love. What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Does it mean to think kind thoughts about other people? Sure, but it’s more than that. Love is not a thought or a feeling; it is an action. Loving others involves doing something. It involves putting at least as much focus on them as you would put on yourself. Selfishness is focusing more on yourself than others. I want to focus at least as much on those around me as I do on myself, if not more. In practical terms, this is going to mean flipping my actual priorities upside down. The things I have been spending the most time on need to be moved to the bottom of the list to make room for the things that are truly important.
Next time I’m going to write about the process of realigning my priorities and establishing new priorities. What are my top priorities? What is important but not a top priority? And what is not really that important at all? What will realigning my priorities look like practically in daily life?
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
With only one more week until Lent begins, I’ve been preparing myself, mostly by thinking seriously about what I plan to do. The following passage from Isaiah 58 got me thinking…
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
This then led me to Matthew, where Jesus says:
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Part of my focus over the next several weeks will be to do just that, to treat the “least” the way Jesus described. I realize this is an attitude and action that should be carried out regularly, but it is something I need to start doing more often. I am very, very blessed. There is food in our cabinets and fridge, we have money in the bank, plenty of clothing, two cars, a house, and all sorts of frivolous things—books, electronics, toys for Elijah, and so on. While I do not feel that we are “owned” by our possessions, I also do not believe that we give nearly enough to those who are less fortunate. I can only speak for myself, but I know I don’t give enough of my time, enough of my energy, enough of my resources, or even enough of my prayers. And it seems obvious that God wants his children to do things like feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit the sick.
Every now and then I may clean out the closets and take some of our old clothes to the Salvation Army. I know you’re probably thinking, “But that’s a good thing to do; you’re helping people.” Yes, I am. But the real issue that I am tackling is that of the heart—what were the intentions of my heart? Was it to help people in need, or was it to get rid of some stuff that was taking up room in my house? Honestly, it is almost always the latter. You may be thinking, “What’s the difference? Either way, you gave.” The difference is in me, not in the outcome. It’s easy to give away things that I don’t need or want anymore; it’s much more of a sacrifice to give something that I could use.
Remember the story of the widow in Mark 12? When people were giving their offerings, those who were rich gave large sums of money. Then an impoverished widow came along and gave her offering, which was not even worth a penny. The sum total of her offering may not have been much, but the spirit with which she gave caught Jesus’ attention, and he told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Now, I’m not suggesting that I will be giving away all my clothing, food, money, and possessions; I don’t believe that’s the point. The point is examining the reasons behind giving. Do I give because I need to get rid of excess? Do I give to show off what I can afford to get rid of? Those things would fall into the category of giving out of my wealth. However, if I give food, clothing, money, or even time that I really could use elsewhere, I am giving for the right reasons. Yes, it’s more of a sacrifice, but I feel that it is also much more meaningful—and much more along the lines of the kind of giving spirit that God desires.
So that will be one focus over the next few weeks—giving to others in a way that pleases God. I do a lot of talk about the necessity of helping the poor, but how often do I act on it? Not enough—and even less do I act on it with the spirit that God intends.
So what does this mean in practical terms? It could mean giving of my time by volunteering at the homeless shelter. It could mean cooking a meal for someone who is hungry or sick. It could mean going through my closet, not to get rid of what I don’t want anymore, but to give items that others need during this cold time of the year. It could mean giving money that I could use elsewhere to a worthy cause or to someone who needs it. Whatever I do, it may make me feel less “comfortable.” It may not be the most convenient thing to do. But that’s okay; I want to take the focus off of my own comfort and convenience and instead focus on giving to those who are less comfortable than myself.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
This then led me to Matthew, where Jesus says:
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Part of my focus over the next several weeks will be to do just that, to treat the “least” the way Jesus described. I realize this is an attitude and action that should be carried out regularly, but it is something I need to start doing more often. I am very, very blessed. There is food in our cabinets and fridge, we have money in the bank, plenty of clothing, two cars, a house, and all sorts of frivolous things—books, electronics, toys for Elijah, and so on. While I do not feel that we are “owned” by our possessions, I also do not believe that we give nearly enough to those who are less fortunate. I can only speak for myself, but I know I don’t give enough of my time, enough of my energy, enough of my resources, or even enough of my prayers. And it seems obvious that God wants his children to do things like feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit the sick.
Every now and then I may clean out the closets and take some of our old clothes to the Salvation Army. I know you’re probably thinking, “But that’s a good thing to do; you’re helping people.” Yes, I am. But the real issue that I am tackling is that of the heart—what were the intentions of my heart? Was it to help people in need, or was it to get rid of some stuff that was taking up room in my house? Honestly, it is almost always the latter. You may be thinking, “What’s the difference? Either way, you gave.” The difference is in me, not in the outcome. It’s easy to give away things that I don’t need or want anymore; it’s much more of a sacrifice to give something that I could use.
Remember the story of the widow in Mark 12? When people were giving their offerings, those who were rich gave large sums of money. Then an impoverished widow came along and gave her offering, which was not even worth a penny. The sum total of her offering may not have been much, but the spirit with which she gave caught Jesus’ attention, and he told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Now, I’m not suggesting that I will be giving away all my clothing, food, money, and possessions; I don’t believe that’s the point. The point is examining the reasons behind giving. Do I give because I need to get rid of excess? Do I give to show off what I can afford to get rid of? Those things would fall into the category of giving out of my wealth. However, if I give food, clothing, money, or even time that I really could use elsewhere, I am giving for the right reasons. Yes, it’s more of a sacrifice, but I feel that it is also much more meaningful—and much more along the lines of the kind of giving spirit that God desires.
So that will be one focus over the next few weeks—giving to others in a way that pleases God. I do a lot of talk about the necessity of helping the poor, but how often do I act on it? Not enough—and even less do I act on it with the spirit that God intends.
So what does this mean in practical terms? It could mean giving of my time by volunteering at the homeless shelter. It could mean cooking a meal for someone who is hungry or sick. It could mean going through my closet, not to get rid of what I don’t want anymore, but to give items that others need during this cold time of the year. It could mean giving money that I could use elsewhere to a worthy cause or to someone who needs it. Whatever I do, it may make me feel less “comfortable.” It may not be the most convenient thing to do. But that’s okay; I want to take the focus off of my own comfort and convenience and instead focus on giving to those who are less comfortable than myself.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
It's Time For A Change
Sometimes in your life there comes a time where, if you are really thinking about it, you realize that many things need to change. You could continue to do things the way you’re doing them, of course, but changing will lead to better relationships, both with the people you love and with God. Changing, as difficult a process as it may be, will bring you closer to being the person God really wants you to be.
I am at that point in my life.
Ever since the year began, I have seen again and again the patterns in my life that I need to change. I have realized that I’ve become a person I don’t want to be. No, I’m not a horrid, detestable person—but I am far from being the person I truly desire to be. My priorities are all out of whack; what I say are my priorities and the things I truly spend the most time and energy on are far from being the same. I’ve found that I have become somewhat lazy, preferring to spend much of my time sitting at the computer or sleeping rather than focusing on relationships and the things I actually need to do (such as keeping my house clean and organized, running errands, or exercising to keep myself healthy). I have become selfish, focusing more on myself and what I want rather than focusing on how I can give of myself to those around me.
For some time now, I’ve known that these things need to change.
Recently, I did an internet search to learn more about Lent, a season often thought of by non-Catholics as the 40 days out of the year where people have to give up something they enjoy. During my research, I learned that Lent is far more than that. Lent is a time to focus on coming to God with all your heart. It is a time to focus on realigning your priorities so that you are actually doing what is important to you instead of wasting time on things that don’t really matter. It is a time of focusing on relationships. It is a time of focusing on becoming the person you really need to be—the person God wants you to be. And it is a time of focusing on others rather than yourself, especially those who are less fortunate.
This year, Lent begins on February 21, and for the first time in my life, I will be participating. I am looking forward to those 40 days. I’m ready to start the process of becoming the person I need to be, and I’m excited to see what God wants for me during this time. Some people do choose to give up a specific thing during this time in order to focus even more on the purpose of Lent. I have a feeling that in realigning my priorities and making the necessary changes, I too will be giving up many things—or at least reducing them to a much less significant position in my life.
During Lent I will be posting here periodically to share my journey. If you are reading this, I ask that you pray for my spiritual growth during this time. These days are going to be challenging, but I feel the challenge is worth it. I am ready to focus on being the person God wants me to be.
I am at that point in my life.
Ever since the year began, I have seen again and again the patterns in my life that I need to change. I have realized that I’ve become a person I don’t want to be. No, I’m not a horrid, detestable person—but I am far from being the person I truly desire to be. My priorities are all out of whack; what I say are my priorities and the things I truly spend the most time and energy on are far from being the same. I’ve found that I have become somewhat lazy, preferring to spend much of my time sitting at the computer or sleeping rather than focusing on relationships and the things I actually need to do (such as keeping my house clean and organized, running errands, or exercising to keep myself healthy). I have become selfish, focusing more on myself and what I want rather than focusing on how I can give of myself to those around me.
For some time now, I’ve known that these things need to change.
Recently, I did an internet search to learn more about Lent, a season often thought of by non-Catholics as the 40 days out of the year where people have to give up something they enjoy. During my research, I learned that Lent is far more than that. Lent is a time to focus on coming to God with all your heart. It is a time to focus on realigning your priorities so that you are actually doing what is important to you instead of wasting time on things that don’t really matter. It is a time of focusing on relationships. It is a time of focusing on becoming the person you really need to be—the person God wants you to be. And it is a time of focusing on others rather than yourself, especially those who are less fortunate.
This year, Lent begins on February 21, and for the first time in my life, I will be participating. I am looking forward to those 40 days. I’m ready to start the process of becoming the person I need to be, and I’m excited to see what God wants for me during this time. Some people do choose to give up a specific thing during this time in order to focus even more on the purpose of Lent. I have a feeling that in realigning my priorities and making the necessary changes, I too will be giving up many things—or at least reducing them to a much less significant position in my life.
During Lent I will be posting here periodically to share my journey. If you are reading this, I ask that you pray for my spiritual growth during this time. These days are going to be challenging, but I feel the challenge is worth it. I am ready to focus on being the person God wants me to be.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
