...he is the worst thief in the night ever.
Startled Poor
How startling would it have been to be poor and hear Jesus say, "Blessed are you"? What if you were mourning? Something that brings such hardship and is seen as a curse in some (most) cultures is now being told to you is really a blessing. It is really an interesting question because I have never really read that blessing from the standpoint of the poor or the mourning, or for that matter, from the standpoint of the humble or meek. I have generally always read it from the standpoint of the comparatively rich and the non-mourning.
I typically read the blessings from the standpoint of the selfish and prideful.
I typically read those beatitudes and blessings and speak of the direct challenge to changes it would mean for me, but I stay rich, selfish, and prideful because those changes seem so hard to make.
But what of the poor hearing that they are blessed?
What of the humble, meek, and mourning?
Would it be freeing?
Would it be confusing as it doesn't FEEL like a blessing?
How would that have felt to be told that? I honestly cannot imagine because I am rarely ever any of those things.
Open Letter to My Students
To my students,
I am for you.
I am for you in life and faith when it may seem no one is for you. Be reminded that I.am.for.you.
When it seems that even I am not for you, let me help you trust that I am for you. I hope for so much for you in life and faith.
In your life, I hope for your growth as a person. I am for you determining what you are truly meant to be and become. I am for you discovering and going after what will make you know joy and love; even if that has nothing to do with what your parents or your culture expects of you.
I am for you never feeling or becoming isolated from a sense of community that goes beyond the connectedness of Facebook into the intimacy of truly knowing others and being known by others. I am for you being connected to many many people but not neglecting commitment to at least a few.
I am for you discovering and truly knowing your heart's expression enough to own that voice within you that hopes to never.stop.expressing. Art is never done.
I am for you finding true love not tainted by what your culture and media says love and romance looks like. I am for you loving another person who has the courage to be a foundation of integrity, faith, and respect in your life instead of someone who is simply attracted to your sexuality.
In your faith, I am for you when it is hard to hold on. I am for you never giving up on the trust in God you once had. I am for you not getting lazy when it is easy to.
I am for you entangling your heart, mind, soul, strength with Jesus Christ....MORE....and MORE. I am for you always wanting to know more of Jesus, and learning what it means to obey him each day of your life.
I am for you learning to trust that you are beautiful and that God is always making you NEW, not because of the things you are good at but because you are a child of God who is outrageously beautiful. I am for you learning to trust that.
I am for you knowing you are NOT the church of tomorrow. You are the church NOW. I am for you not comparing yourselves to a church you once knew or were once hurt by. I am for you BEING the church you wish it was. I am for you not letting anyone look down you because you are younger. I am for you setting an example for all the people who are older than you; those who would rather categorize and complain about you than to know and listen to you. I am for you setting an example of those who have not "given up on Church" but of those who desire to be the church we are intended to be.
I am with you and I am FOR YOU.
- Your Pastor
Support a Ragamuffin Movie
A good friend of mine is directing a film about, who I might consider, the original ragamuffin, Rich Mullins. The idea of the Ragamuffin life of faith may have been communicated first by Brennan Manning, but it was first lived out in its strongest sense by Rich. Please take a moment to watch this small clip by Rich's little brother and a brief trailer for the film.
Most Beautiful 3 Minutes of My Day
I was trailed into my favorite coffee shop by a transient man. He stayed just inside the door as I progressed to the counter. The barista kept his eyes attached to the man, but said under his breath to me, "This is the second day he's showed up. He doesn't do anything wrong, though. So I don't mind him hanging there." First tinge of beauty.
Turning around, I watched the vagrant man hangout in the entry way. It is not especially hot or cold outside. So it could not have been for any relief from the elements that brought him to this threshold two days in a row. He didn't want coffee or money or a handout of any sort. So WHAT does he want here?
Naturally, he has attracted dozens of wandering eyes by now, but the beautiful things begin to show up for me.
He begins bobbing his head and twitching his body to the beat of the dance music on the house system. He is dancing. Subtle...but he is soaking the music like it is a hydration station on a marathon of beggared life.
The song ends and he turns to leave.
Beautiful.