A Mighty Flood of Justice

This weekend our church has been fundraising and talking about the global sex trade, in our support of Serve Nepal, part of the SA Foundation, who are working with women who are coming out of the sex trade and giving them a safe place, new skills and restoring dignity. And as we were singing this morning God was speaking to me about His call to justice. Certainly not new territory for me, but a knowledge that has lain somewhat dormant lately. And especially in this place of working for a local church, in relative comfort and wealth, I am convicted.

We were singing, "You are the God of the broken/The friend of the weak/You wash the feet of the weary/Embrace the ones in need/I want to be like you Jesus/To have this heart in me/You are the God of the humble/You are the Humble King." And also, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is/There is Freedom", "I'm free/Free/I'm free/Free/I'm free."

And the Spirit reminded me - God is the Father and Protector of the humble and broken, something I think we all love and say "Amen" to. But there's that line, "I want to be like you Jesus/To have this heart in me," how can I sing that, and not be asking Christ to change me? How can I sing this song and not then go out to the humble, broken and weak. A simple revelation? For sure, but I don't think I've ever noticed that line in all the times I've sang that song. I've been moved by who God is and still never asked Him to make me Christ-like! At least not with that song.

And then we sang of the Freedom, and I was somewhat subdued and somber. How can I sing, "I'm free" when they are in bondage and suffering? What good, what gospel is there if I am free and that's just for me to enjoy and dance in and celebrate and cling to? The words fall empty and meaningless unless I bring freedom in word and in deed. But I didn't fall to despair because of that line, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is/There is Freedom," because I know that the Spirit is within me, is within all of His people. And His presence brings freedom. So yes - if we are not bringing freedom when we see injustice we are denying the Holy One within us. But also - if we will go to bring freedom, it is the power and character of the Spirit of God who will accomplish it! It is not by our might or strength or will. It is by obedience.

I was once told, "We are not free, until we are all free." And in worship of the King this morning the Lord reminded me of that. We in the wealthy Western church need to commit ourselves to stomping out injustice, whether it lies in our own cities, or in third world brothels. Whether it's in vogue or not. Whether it's safe or not. We have resources to serve the victims, and we make choices that are contributing to the demand! I pray that we will not deny the Holy One within us, and speak nice words of commitment when our actions prove our selfishness.

The Least

You might expect that being a midwife at a clinic that serves poor families in a 3rd world country, would just be a very rewarding experience. You might think that one would feel like they were were doing amazing ministry everyday. But for me, for the most part I overlook those things. I usually feel like I'm at work, it's good work, but still just work. But every once and a while, I catch a glimpse of the ministry being performed by my hands even when I'm "just working".
A woman labours through the night and as I take my shift in "labour watching", sitting with her, rubbing her back, breathing with her through each contraction, wiping hair and sweat from her face. I feel a moment of realization, I'm labour watching over Jesus. Wiping His brow, speaking encouragement to Him.
And on another night as I gently wash the dried blood off a new mother's body, my mind sees for a second that I am washing the legs and feet of Jesus. And I really truely know it, to the point that in that moment I can only pray, and that even writing this brings me tears.
I'm not writing this because I'm proud of these little things I've done. People do far greater things each and every day. I'm only writing because His words are true, "Whatever we do for the least of these, we do it for Him." And I can go to work and not expect to do or be or find any great thing. I can stare neediness in the face and not respond correctly, caringly and Christianly. That's me, I can do that. But sometimes God grabs ahold of my heart, and opens my eyes and I catch a glimpse of glory. Of worship. Of a God who chooses to be found "in the least of these."

The Irresistible Revolution

Have any of you read "The Irresistible Revolution"? I'm working on it, for the 2nd time, and it's kicking my butt, again! Maybe this time my life might be changed to the core. If not, I'll read it again!
The basis of the book is this:
Isn't there a whole lot more, perhaps a completely different "more" to the call of Christianity, than what the North American church is living and teaching? Are we not called to know and love and serve the poor, "to place them among the princes of our own people" (Psalm 111)? Was our Saviour not a homeless man, who didn't make friends with the good religious people, but sought out the "sinners" and the suffering? And if He knew and cared for the poor, and we claim we are following Him, shouldn't we know the poor? Did He not care for others imaginatively, curing blindness with a mud/spit paste, and zapping 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough for thousands? Did He not invite us into a new family, and way of being where global Christians are not like family, but are in fact our very brothers, sisters and mothers? Did not the early Church reject the way of the Roman world, sharing everything with each other, even fasting so that everyone might eat? Didn't Jesus say to "love our enemies", and wouldn't that mean we don't bomb them? Isn't there a big difference between giving to charities and actually knowing the poor? Didn't Jesus say that the world hated Him, so they would hate us too?
That's it, my synopsis of a 300-something page book, which is far more elloquent, far more butt-kicking and sure to wreck your life. Perhaps the Bible is already speaking these things to you, and you don't need another book to point out the things you've already heard. Or perhaps you are easily forgetful, and culturally stuck, and you can easily skip the "tough" words of Jesus. Perhaps you're like me.
So if you are, if you are wondering if you're missing something, if Christian faith is supposed to be more than what you're living right now. Then buy, borrow, whatever, get the book! And read it. And ask God to give you the courage to read and hear all the words of Christ, not just the ones that would our lives happier, easier, nicer. I don't think Jesus is in that business!

(The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne)

Wrestling

Life is an interesting mix of totally wonderful and enjoyable experiences; treats, time with friends and new adventures. And loneliness, discomfort, hard questions and suffering. I suppose I'm incredibly lucky to have so much of the good!
Lately amidst fun and chances to minister, my heart has been wrestling with some difficult questions. Every day I work here I meet and serve alongside families who do not eat 3 meals a day, their homes teeter on stilts over filthy water, or rise as shacks over years of garbage. I test the vision of children who don't even have clothes, and are instead covered in black dirt I don't want to touch and have sores oozing from their faces. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty or to paint for you a sort of World Vision commercial, I'm simply laying out the honest truth I see day by day. And the thing is I'm only the one seeing it. I'm not the mother, daughter, father, son living that life. I'm not them and I can't imagine being them. But being among these children of God brings so many questions to which I have no answers.
How now do I live? Is it okay, that people live like this and I go to Starbucks? And how should I respond to the child begging at my taxi window? And is it okay that my heart really longs to live a certain kind of comfortable life at home? And what does the Bible say, what did Jesus do, how has He called us to live?
My mind is swirling with these, wondering about the financial choices I make each day, wondering how I am to live after this year. Wondering if I can't handle facing the poverty, who will? And there aren't easy answers, there might not be any answers. There's just this entangled web of questions, one leads to the next and then back again. I don't think that it's either/or, black and white. Instead it's just a mess.
I encourage you to ask these questions too. Sorry, I'm encouraging you to enter a confusing and worrisome state! But I think it's important, and I think it's essential to being a disciple. And it's tough. If you have any wisdom on the subject, or if you've asked similar questions, then let's chat about it, cause I'm looking for wisdom and Godly answers.

This is the Day

I was closing in on the second lap of my morning run, when an unbeckoned song popped into my head; that classic Sunday School tune, "This is the Day." The words slipped from my mouth, while I panned the area to make sure no one could over hear, (which really shouldn't matter in a country where karoake is normal behaviour). "This is the day that the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it..."
So folks this was my day:
We visited Alma and her twins, and Mia did postpartum checkups all round.

One of Alma's beautiful daughters; Samaria, has claimed little Joseph (my favourite), as hers. She's pretty enthralled, and so motherly.
After posing with her boys, Samaria took helm with my camera and caught some shots of her own:
She catches a great smile from Ate Mia...
...while Ate Doris catches a wink and Alex entertains the neighbours...
...and I hold the boy with the greatest hair, so guwapo!
We stopped to visit 3 more recent deliveries - admiring babies, answering questions and doing checkups. As we rounded the bend to home we found some of our neighbour boys taking advantage of a breeze and flying small kites from the top of the garbage heap.
I don't feel like what we're doing here is very BIG, it certainly seems like half of a quarter of a drop in the bucket. And some days that is a real battle in my mind and my heart. But I have wise parents who stand beside me. And I have these good, sweet moments with our moms. And I am reminded that ultimately this is His day, I will rejoice and be glad to be a part of it. This is the day, this is day that LORD has made!

The Deepest Ache

There is an article on 24-7 Prayer right now that urge you ever so much to read! It resonates so deeply with where my heart is at right now - feeling like time with God isn't happening. Do you know that feeling, that dull ache - like a hunger, almost tangible? But it fades so quickly because I quickly replace the realization of my desparation for God, with "busywork", with anything, with my entertainment and distraction. I am number one in my life. I am the end, the center, of all my thoughts and time. I feel the call of Christ. I hear His voice. But I am so weak.
I need to be transformed in the ultimate act of worhsip - time with Christ alone.
My hope is in Him, and that lately I HAVE been in His word, what goodness as He waters my soul. (Annie I feel your prayers.) Now I need to stop, and recognize that the LORD, Yahweh, the One who knows all, holds all, made all, He is waiting to commune with me. I want to worship Him.
Read the article and find that maybe you hear the call, and feel the ache. Go be quiet for just a moment, and find that God is there. He is already there. Worship Him.

Spring Happened

One of my favourite things happened last night. I love the moment in spring when the little gray buds on all the trees all of a sudden become bright green leaves - everywhere. And it almost seems like it is ONE moment. One day you see spring about to happen. And then the next day you realize it's happened and all is green and somehow you missed the in-between.
That moment of revelation hit last night. I was driving along when I realized all the trees next to me were green. Everyone of them had leaves, not buds.
And so my long commute this morning was once again a beautiful thing (after I made it past the blowing snow and sleet!) The road to Fort St. John rolls right over the mighty Peace River. And as the road drops into the steep valley, all around is this fantastic shade of green. All the trees looking like - life! And so I have to try to pry my eyes off the view and try to stay on the road - a somewhat difficult task (for me) on any day. But it was great. I could sit at the top of that hill for a couple of hours and just watch and sing. How pretty!