Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.
These are themes of the Advent Conspiracy movement (www.adventconspiracy.org), a reaction to our consumeristic culture and ideas of how to redeem the Christmas season for what it was originally intended.
Last year I posted a link to their video on my blog, because I loved the idea and was trying to get my mind around how to worship more in the Christmas season. Our pastor pointed out how rich we are in America, and how Christmas is basically a holiday of rich people giving more stuff to other rich people…and that stuck with me.
This year I’m trying to take one more step forward, to better grasp the concept and begin living it out. There are multiple thoughts and ways of how one can do this, including some shared at our church this weekend. I debated on sharing some specific ways of how I’m going to approach this season…because our church also recently talked about “investing in obscurity” and doing good without anyone knowing it as a way to break our pride and seek humility. So, talking about the “good” things I’m doing is an internal debate - it draws attention, but it also points to Christ (hopefully). When one of our pastors shared the way he and his family are sacrificing this season to give to others, I didn’t think “Wow, you’re so cool”….but it simply gave me a real, tangible idea of what I could do. So I hope I can do for others, while primarily holding myself accountable by putting this in writing.
I’ve decided this Christmas needs to be about the concepts above…sacrificing, yet giving more, in order to better understand and serve our Savior. One pastor mentioned that he and his family are eating rice and beans for dinner for the rest of the month, and will use the money they save to give to those in need.
I had already been contemplating fasting more often, because I have seen real value in that in my life recently. So I’ve decided to fast lunch (or an entire day) at least once per week. That way, I can pray during that time and use the money I save to give to someone else in need. And the other lunches I eat each week will be something very simple and inexpensive. I’ve also decided to spend less money on friends and family for Christmas…and will either give presence (rather than presents – another AC idea) or fair trade items that will benefit those who make them (ex-victims of sex trafficking, human slavery, etc, who are making their livelihood from these creations). I have also decided that I won’t make any clothing, jewelry, or just-for-fun purchases for myself until after Christmas.
Jesus coming to earth and then dying for us was the ultimate sacrifice – giving up his rights as God and becoming a servant to all. Shouldn’t I also make this season about sacrificing in order to worship him more and serve others better?
One of my favorite quotes is from Gandhi – “May I live simply that others may simply live.” I’ll admit I haven’t done a great job of living this out much of the time. But in this season of advent – of new beginnings - I’m laying out some steps to help me start dong a better job of allowing others to simply live. I hope you’ll join me.
And if you’ve come up with any brilliant ideas of how to enter into this season (and carry it out even after Christmas ends), leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
They Have Something I Want
Sometimes when I see all of the Facebook posts, Tweets, events, blogs, etc going on and on about social justice and things that we need to take a stand for or against, I wonder if it’s just a cool idea many of us have gotten caught up into. I see that it’s actually easy to get so passionate about doing, that we forget why and who we’re doing it for. If not in the name of Jesus, if not out of love, then it doesn’t really matter.
I could go on about that topic, but that’s for another time. But I’m one of those people who posts a lot of that social justice stuff. Why? That’s what I just asked myself recently, checking my motives. And as I thought about it, I believe my heart and motives are pure. But why do so many of us seem to be getting caught up in social activism and justice, etc? Maybe there’s some aspect of it that’s getting trendy and cool, but the other day, I had a series of conversations and interactions that reminded me why I’m passionate about serving ‘the least of these’ and why so many others are as well. And not just because it's trendy.
I’d just talked to Roland, a homeless man I know who I’m trying to help get home to his family this winter to have a place to stay. It was brief, and incredibly inconvenient (making me late to work), but telling him that I’d gotten the money to send him home was a great joy (thanks to those who donated to make it happen!). His surprise and that all he needed to do was gather up a small bag of belongings and he'd be ready to go, and his simple contentment as he told me about his $11.21 Southern food meal that he would get later at a local joint to fill him up brought a smile to my face.
Later on, as I left the grocery store, a teenage boy stopped me to ask for $.50. I had to ask more, about why he was there and what he needed help for, and we talked a bit about how he’d “F’d” up and been kicked out a year ago, and homeless since. But he said it was pretty easy to get the money for his motel room by asking people, and he didn’t seem to worried about things. He had $20 left to get, but all he’d asked for was $.50…
Later that night I spent a while on the phone with a friend from Hollywood, someone who’s been homeless for a long time and just trying to stay sober and clean and figure out how God fits in his life. He went on and on about how God provides for every one of his needs, takes care of him, keeps him sober and sane when he can’t do it himself. He said that he’s at peace and not worried, because he sees God continually provide even in the smallest ways, and knows that God takes care of his children just as any good father would.
When my tone expressed worry about him, he corrected me saying, "you're worrying about things you don't have control over. Don't worry!"
Today I read an article about Mark Horvath, a man I met a few weeks ago who’s raising a lot of awareness about homelessness because he used to be homeless. He’s used his last money at times, and given away belongings to others in need even though he himself was in need and homeless, or just barely out of homelessness. Because he knew he had to help, and if he didn’t maybe no one would.
As I reflected on these stories, I thought of one more I'd just read in the book “Same Kind of Different as Me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It's about a wealthy, white couple who started volunteering at a rescue mission and how that changed their lives through the people they met. I saw a lot of myself in that book, and I looked back at a few page corners I’d turned down while reading and re-read this portion that so reminded me of me:
Luckily, over the past few years, this pride in me has diminished significantly (though it still lingers and rears its ugly head more than I'd like to admit). I don't think myself superior to others...most of the time, anyway. But sometimes I catch myself in a moment that brings out pride and allows me to be honest and see that, yes, I think I have wisdom to sprinkle into someone's life that they couldn' t possibly have. And perhaps it's true, maybe I have wisdom they don't. But very similarly, they have much wisdom that I don't. When they share it with me, that's when I'm embarrassed at my thinking. I see they've grasped and been given understanding that I have not been able to acheive or understand. They often know things about life and God that I still have so much yet to learn.
Just like Ron Hall…sometimes those of us who have worked hard and persevered to get what we want, and have the "perfect life" and are always striving to do more, end up in a place of pride and judgement. We think we have the right way, we think we have everything and know it all. But when we spend time with those who are so different form us, we get to see God in a new way. I get to see child-like faith that I long for. I’m humbled by those who have “nothing” and yet trust God for everything, while I have “everything” and yet worry about losing it or not having enough.
When I spend time with the poor, orphans, widows, needy, I see who Christ wants me to become. No, not homeless or orphaned…but someone who expresses the type of faith that they so often live their life by. I want to be more like Jesus. And when I’m with these people, I catch a glimpse of what that looks like. I see faith lived out. I see generosity and love and wisdom.
It’s not always easy to swallow that I can be corrected by someone that I think I’m so much ‘wiser’ than. But as I read today, God opposes the proud and exalts the humble. I want to be more like Christ…I think all Christians do.
So why do some of us get so passionate about the causes of the poor, needy and outcasts? Yes, because Jesus tells us to. But also because in these conversations we see something in them that we want, that Jesus wants for us.
Today I read this in a random book at my desk: “Those who seek for much are left in want of much. Happy is the person to whom God has given, with sparing hand, as much as is enough” –Horace.
I think so many people seek to change the world, because as we do so, God changes us as well.
I could go on about that topic, but that’s for another time. But I’m one of those people who posts a lot of that social justice stuff. Why? That’s what I just asked myself recently, checking my motives. And as I thought about it, I believe my heart and motives are pure. But why do so many of us seem to be getting caught up in social activism and justice, etc? Maybe there’s some aspect of it that’s getting trendy and cool, but the other day, I had a series of conversations and interactions that reminded me why I’m passionate about serving ‘the least of these’ and why so many others are as well. And not just because it's trendy.
I’d just talked to Roland, a homeless man I know who I’m trying to help get home to his family this winter to have a place to stay. It was brief, and incredibly inconvenient (making me late to work), but telling him that I’d gotten the money to send him home was a great joy (thanks to those who donated to make it happen!). His surprise and that all he needed to do was gather up a small bag of belongings and he'd be ready to go, and his simple contentment as he told me about his $11.21 Southern food meal that he would get later at a local joint to fill him up brought a smile to my face.
Later on, as I left the grocery store, a teenage boy stopped me to ask for $.50. I had to ask more, about why he was there and what he needed help for, and we talked a bit about how he’d “F’d” up and been kicked out a year ago, and homeless since. But he said it was pretty easy to get the money for his motel room by asking people, and he didn’t seem to worried about things. He had $20 left to get, but all he’d asked for was $.50…
Later that night I spent a while on the phone with a friend from Hollywood, someone who’s been homeless for a long time and just trying to stay sober and clean and figure out how God fits in his life. He went on and on about how God provides for every one of his needs, takes care of him, keeps him sober and sane when he can’t do it himself. He said that he’s at peace and not worried, because he sees God continually provide even in the smallest ways, and knows that God takes care of his children just as any good father would.
When my tone expressed worry about him, he corrected me saying, "you're worrying about things you don't have control over. Don't worry!"
Today I read an article about Mark Horvath, a man I met a few weeks ago who’s raising a lot of awareness about homelessness because he used to be homeless. He’s used his last money at times, and given away belongings to others in need even though he himself was in need and homeless, or just barely out of homelessness. Because he knew he had to help, and if he didn’t maybe no one would.
As I reflected on these stories, I thought of one more I'd just read in the book “Same Kind of Different as Me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It's about a wealthy, white couple who started volunteering at a rescue mission and how that changed their lives through the people they met. I saw a lot of myself in that book, and I looked back at a few page corners I’d turned down while reading and re-read this portion that so reminded me of me:
“I marveled at the intricate tapestry of God's providence. Deborah, led by God to deliver mercy and compassion, had rescued this wreck of a man who, when she fell ill, in turn became her chief intercessor. For nineteen months, he prayed through the night until dawn and delivered the word of God to our door like a kind of heavenly paperboy. I was embarrassed that I once thought myself superior to him, stooping to sprinkle my wealth and wisdom into his lowly life."
Luckily, over the past few years, this pride in me has diminished significantly (though it still lingers and rears its ugly head more than I'd like to admit). I don't think myself superior to others...most of the time, anyway. But sometimes I catch myself in a moment that brings out pride and allows me to be honest and see that, yes, I think I have wisdom to sprinkle into someone's life that they couldn' t possibly have. And perhaps it's true, maybe I have wisdom they don't. But very similarly, they have much wisdom that I don't. When they share it with me, that's when I'm embarrassed at my thinking. I see they've grasped and been given understanding that I have not been able to acheive or understand. They often know things about life and God that I still have so much yet to learn.
Just like Ron Hall…sometimes those of us who have worked hard and persevered to get what we want, and have the "perfect life" and are always striving to do more, end up in a place of pride and judgement. We think we have the right way, we think we have everything and know it all. But when we spend time with those who are so different form us, we get to see God in a new way. I get to see child-like faith that I long for. I’m humbled by those who have “nothing” and yet trust God for everything, while I have “everything” and yet worry about losing it or not having enough.
When I spend time with the poor, orphans, widows, needy, I see who Christ wants me to become. No, not homeless or orphaned…but someone who expresses the type of faith that they so often live their life by. I want to be more like Jesus. And when I’m with these people, I catch a glimpse of what that looks like. I see faith lived out. I see generosity and love and wisdom.
It’s not always easy to swallow that I can be corrected by someone that I think I’m so much ‘wiser’ than. But as I read today, God opposes the proud and exalts the humble. I want to be more like Christ…I think all Christians do.
So why do some of us get so passionate about the causes of the poor, needy and outcasts? Yes, because Jesus tells us to. But also because in these conversations we see something in them that we want, that Jesus wants for us.
Today I read this in a random book at my desk: “Those who seek for much are left in want of much. Happy is the person to whom God has given, with sparing hand, as much as is enough” –Horace.
I think so many people seek to change the world, because as we do so, God changes us as well.
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