"Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these my brothers you’ve done it to me. And this is what I’ve come to think. That if I want to identify fully with Jesus Christ, who I claim to be my Savior and Lord, the best way that I can do that is to identify with the poor. This I know will go against the teachings of all the popular evangelical preachers. But they’re just wrong. They’re not bad, they’re just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken." (Rich Mullins)
I think this quote sums up a large majority of the things I'm learning this summer. I'm learning to love, unconditionally. I'm learning that just because you're black and from the 'hood, doesn't make you a bad person (I already knew that, but internally still held a stereotype). I'm learning that
living in community, with the same people all the time, isn't easy. I'm learning about myself. I'm learning about Jesus. I'm learning to see Jesus in
those around me. The lady who needs a ride to Solo, but smells like she hasn't showered in days. The fighting six year old boys that get under my skin, but can have the cutest smiles, and sweetest spirits. The teenage boys that act like they're cool than this. The teenage girls that have walls built for miles around their hearts.
These people help me identify with Jesus. God's called me to love these people, as much as my own family and friends. As a white person, raised in a middle class family, it's easy
to forget how privileged I am. It's easy to be complacent.
com·pla·cent (k
m-pl
snt)
m-plsnt)adj.
1. Contented to a fault; self-satisfied and unconcerned: He had become complacent after years of success.
In Charlotte, there is a huge difference in the areas of poverty, and riches. I've spent some time this week in some of the "better off" parts of to
wn. It's hard for me to be comfortable in that environment now. Consumerism drives the middle to upper classes. Not saying I don't ever spend money, because according to Helms, the interns this year are "some of the most spendingness, drivingness people." So yes, I do realize I have a lot to work on. But, I've really been convicted, this past week especially, of falling into the trap of complacency for where I'm at and ignorance to the poor in my community. Poverty breaks my heart. Seeing children being raised in poverty breaks my heart. Parents, working 3 jobs, just to put food on the table. Grandparents, opening their 3 bedroom house to their children and grandchildren. While many of us (myself included) spend money on things we don't need, ignorant to those suffering around us.
As Christians we are called to do something. We are called to help the poor and needy and those who are oppressed. That doesn't mean you have to uproot your whole lifestyle and move to the 'hood (although, it's not a bad idea), but you can and must do something. Get involved locally. Find organizations you can volunteer at and give to. Get to know a homeless person. Give to a homeless person. Forget the ideas of "safety" that you've held your whole life. These people that are different than you, aren't out to hurt you. They want the same thing you want: to be loved and accepted. Build relationships. Give. Volunteer. And most of all, LOVE.
This is my prayer:
"Father, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to live at Hyaets this summer. Thank you for opening my eyes to those around me, who daily face situations that I can't begin to comprehend. Thank you that you've equipped me to do something. I'm sorry that I daily fall into the trap of consumerism and complacency. Continually convict me of my ignorance to oppression, and remind me to show your love with those around me. And allow my focus to be on you in all that I'm doing. Thank you for loving unconditionally. Amen."
1 John 3:18
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
