Hope and Thankfulness

I've been in a funk the past week or two. Can't explain it all but for one reason or another I've been riding this rollercoaster ride of feeling down and feeling at peace. No consistency. I can figure out some of the reasons but to be honest some of it is too personal to share in a public forum like this. The real core of this though lies in spending too much time focusing on myself. I had vowed to give up selfishness for Lent but have failed the last couple of weeks. Today I finally slowed down enough to reflect on some things and to realize how much I should be focused on all those things I can be thankful for and to realize that hope is a trait I need to, how can I put this, surround others with, radiate, I think that is the word. I need to radiate hope and be someone who positively impacts others.

While I sat in my self-created pity party the past couple of days all the energy I had was used to look at my own deficiencies and doubts. My schedule and life have been very hectic during this time in the past two weeks, some of which I had no control over and some I created for myself. It became habit to reply to people and bother friends with my struggles instead of using that energy to listen and care for them. This is not my norm I don't think but I've been in this rut for awhile now. I honestly have not liked myself lately and yet, failed to make those changes necessary to bring that peace back. I become sarcastic and lose my sensitivity to others needs during these times. My sense of humor becomes cutting and hurtful. When this self-absorbed Dave takes over all of the parts that I find to be not attractive surface. It is so very hypocritical of me. Then I get bothered by how I've let people around me down or worry about others perceptions of me. It ain't pretty.

Today, as I was sitting in my office at church getting some organization done and chatting with a friend in Fargo talking about the flood, it dawned on me that this is not who God has called me to be and not the Dave I want people to see or know. I came home and walked around our beautiful home and took time to notice all the beauty of creation that surrounds me daily. I had been so buried in my work, watching TV, Facebook, etc. that I had failed to notice the wonders of the people and nature around me. So it is time to blog about the those things, those people, those moments that I have been blessed with. It is time to realize the hope that is present even in these trying times. It is time to be someone who lives compassionately, who lives positively, who lives to change his world around him in a positive way.

This is already long enough but I want to thank those friends that I work with who have so generously put up with my moods, listened to me, built me up and admonished me when necessary. I am truly blessed with so many friends who allow me to be me with all my quirks. Lord help me to understand and accept that so that I may be "real" all the time and not worry about what others think but only about what You think and what You have called me to be. My family is truly amazing. They bring smiles to my face. My two daughters are the most beautiful people I could have ever been blessed with. The list could go on and on. I have tears in my eyes when I think of all those important people. I can only hope and pray that I may bring you the joy and friendship that you give me. To those of you who read this and that I work with...THANKS! I have one very dear friend that I don't think reads this and to you a special thank you. You will never know what your friendship means. Nobody has allowed me to be me better than you and challenged me to be positive about my own self-image better than you.

My friends there is hope. I see it in the eyes of the young people I get to work with each day. I am surrounded by amazing people with amazing gifts who insist on making this a better place. The youth that I work with at church are changing our world. They are feeding the hungry, clothing the homeless, and sharing their lives with friends in need. How powerful! In the midst of flooding, economic woes, and world unrest it is easy to focus on all that is wrong. I am a believer that the real miracle is that during all of these difficult times it requires us to become better neighbors, less selfish, more compassionate and brings about the real beauty of those around us. There is really hope all around us. God has promised us just that. When our focus leaves our own needs, our fears, our greed and looks to others then we can have the eyes of joy and hope. As Easter approaches we need to remember the promise that was kept on that cross and by His resurrection. Our needs will be met, our fears relieved and our greed will turn to compassion. We need not worry but work diligently towards listening, following and believing in others, ourselves and our God.

Now it is time for me to listen to these words and live it myself. Won't you join me?

Paradox of Life

I've been challenged with the many paradoxes of life both personally and more globally. One day a couple of weeks ago I received the news that the 3 yr old son of friends has terminal cancer and very little hope for recovery. The very same day a friend and colleague donated a kidney to her sister-in-law and saved a life. It seems when we look at our life these contradictory stories surround us. Certainly in my faith walk there are stories and struggles that relate to all the paradoxes of the Bible and God's existence. Give up your life to get it, love your enemies, the list is endless in this realm. I need more time to dwell on this and to really reflect on all the pieces of life that fit into this paradigm. I'm guessing almost all of it does. With all of that instability how do we find a solid foundation and remain controlled through it all? How do we seek and accept that wisdom and find the internal peace that provides us perseverance and understanding to remain hopeful? Don't really know to be honest and I don't feel like I'm very successful at attaining those lofty goals. I admire those that are able to live that way and have the self-worth to go confidently forward.

As I was driving to work this morning a poem came to mind that reflected on my own personal paradoxes. It is kind of dark and heavy and would maybe give the impression that I am not happy but that is not the case. I just sometimes find myself in this state of mind and needed to release it so I wrote a poem, yeah, while driving down a very busy highway at an illegal speed, but goes to show you can be stupid, dangerous and reflective at the same time. Isn't multi-tasking a gift? Anyway, here it is in it's original form...which means it might need work but here's what I got so far.

Paradox of Life

Feeling trapped within these walls
They're invisible but still
The boundaries surround me
Created by my own will

The beauty of the sunrise
And the wonders of each soul
Do not go without notice
Yet still this cavernous hole

People all around my life
Friends are abundantly found
With all of this I'm lonely
Seeking a fulfilling sound

There are so many answers
Plenty of pathways exist
The journey still continues
All the questions still persist

Perspective Amongst Commitment and Money

There have been many thoughts and ideas that I've been reflecting on for the past week. I was ready to blog on the evils of money and then got on a tangent about commitment but have found that there is perspective to bring all of these pieces together.

Two events that happened in the small town I live in brought to life the evils of money thoughts for me. One had a former sheriff swindling an elderly gentleman out of a large sum of money. The other had an elderly couple brutally murdered over a financial contract gone bad. I know or knew many of the individuals involved in these tragic events. The men involved in both of these incidents in my opinion based their entire self-worth on money or the image of having money. I could go into more detail but I think that suffices for where this blog is headed.

Commitment became prominent in my reflections when I was writing a letter to the families at our church where I serve as the Youth & Family Minister. While writing this letter the concepts and thoughts about how commitment is a two way street came to light. Commitments that have only a one-sided effort soon fail. This is true in relationships with friends, spouses, colleagues, jobs, children and our Maker. I must admit this piece is very self-damning for me as I believe this is an area I fail at all too often in too many ways. For whatever reason I had never thought of this commitment needing both sides to be involved for it to truly be a commitment.

As I stated earlier money and commitment were going to be blogs unto themselves and maybe will be sometime in the future but I have something more positive, more important for what makes life significantly different. I need to tell you about my experiences from yesterday to lay the groundwork for perspective.

I am working on getting some finances put together so that I can simplify life and get out of a business I am part owner of. In order to do this I have been relying on my wife and father to get paperwork into the bank. For a variety of reasons this has taken a great deal of time and when it did happen it wasn't the right paperwork. I didn't handle this well yesterday and frankly I just got pissed off at the whole situation. So I came home to sit in my own pity party and just to be mad at the world I guess. As I was stewing in my own frustration I received word that the 3 year old son of friends that I had taught with was found to have a brain tumor. This young man has been battling cancer for a couple of years and looked to be beating the odds of his cancer when this setback occurred yesterday.

This hit me unusually hard last night. I cried and then reflected on my own self-pity party. How pathetic to be honest. Perspective is everything. Here I was upset because something didn't happen in MY time and as I wanted it. (And yes, it involved money and in some ways commitment. Pot meet kettle.) Suddenly none of that mattered. My friends were dealing with the possibility that their son may not live and at the very least was going to be dealing with a major surgery, more chemo and a life turned upside down once again. I still was fighting tears most of the day thinking about it.

What does all this mean? There have been many events happening around me that have caused me to take a step back to gain perspective on what really is important and to be thankful and yes hopeful about what life has in store. With the happenings in the little burg I live in, friends all around wondering if they have jobs, little Owen fighting a tumor once again and just being amidst the doldrums of winter I have found perspective and hope. Peace is still something I seek but isn't as consistently a part of my being at this point. All of this has reinforced how thankful I should be daily, hourly, every second. For most of us, if we open our eyes and hearts to the world around us we can find others in a situation more stressful and more painful than our own.

We need to remember Whose we are and that we have been promised to be loved, forgiven and surrounded by grace. Our perspective needs to look at others with compassion. A compassionate heart lets us be grateful for all that we have been given. Now we are human, we have bad moments, bad times and there are things like Owen's illness that make no sense and cause us to stop and ask why. That is okay, that reflection helps us to see life in a very real way and helps us to reach out and make a difference for those who are in circumstances that don't make sense and cause pain. A commitment was made to us by Him who died on the cross. As we enter Lent on this Ash Wednesday it is a time of reflection and a time that we uncomfortably focus on our own sinfulness. We are there, no one more or less than the other in reality. We need to make that commitment a two-way relationship. That is where the idea of fasting or giving up something for lent comes in. It's a commitment to a God who has promised to never let go of His side of that commitment.

The last part of the perspective is we can't just stay in Lent. Lent only prepares us for the real Gift. Easter is coming, the resurrection, the redemption, the ultimate commitment, greater than all the money in the world. Forgiveness and love have never been expressed so completely, so majestically. If it hadn't happened, if there was no resurrection, our world would have been just as radically changed as it was radically changed with it.

I want to finish with the lyrics from a song that has resonated with my heart and soul from Brandon Heath. It's a song entitled "Give Me Your Eyes" and here is the chorus.

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

My challenge for myself for Lent is to give up my selfish thoughts, to work hard at not focusing on me and my own issues and life. I want to do what that chorus says, take Jesus' eyes and see the beauty and pain in others. Lord, help me to reach out and gain the perspective from others' eyes, others' shoes. I know I feel my best when I am helping others. I sometimes get obnoxious in trying to be helpful but I'd rather err on the side of trying too hard than not making the effort at all. Join with me in losing our focus on money or on our own needs and let's give up selfishness for Lent. Pray with me daily that God would give us His eyes, love, arms and heart. What a perspective that would be and what a world that would create! Amen!

Earning the Right to Be Heard

This doesn't need to be commented on or added to...just a loud, "AMEN!!!" This is a sermon by Tony Campolo. I wish I had written it.

I’m going to talk about power and authority. There is a difference.
Max Weber, one of the great sociologists of modern times, says that power carries with it the ability to coerce. Coercion is always in the background when we talk about power. For instance, when the policeman in the patrol car pulls up behind me on the highway with the red lights flashing, I pull over. I don’t want to obey. I don’t want to yield to his request that I pull over, but I do because I have to. He’s got power. It’s called a gun and I yield to him because he’s got power! He doesn’t have to pull the gun. He doesn’t have to use the gun. The very fact that coercion is a possibility makes me obedient.

Authority is quite different. My mother had great authority over me. No power. She was a little Italian lady. I could have kicked her down the steps. But when she spoke, I obeyed because she had authority. Where did she get that authority? She got that authority by thousands and thousands of loving sacrificial things she did for me over the years. Her sacrifices, her loving sacrifices, earned her authority.

There is a big difference between power and authority. And what I want to say is this: when the Church tries to play power games, when the Church tries to use, for instance, political power to impose it’s will on people, it loses even when it thinks it wins. The Church has a need to speak with authority.

Now, a good example of what I mean by authority is in the story of Mother Teresa. There is a city not too far from Eastern University where they have a state hospital. In the state hospital they have people who are emotionally and psychologically disturbed. It’s a huge place. Well, the directors of the hospital wanted to start these halfway houses so that people who were on their way to full recovery could be nurtured from the hospital back into society, by first going to these halfway houses and from there they could get jobs and, little by little, own their own residences. It was a transition stage and that’s why they wanted these five halfway houses. Needless to say, the people in the city weren’t particularly thrilled with the possibility of this prospect. There was a city council meeting. The place was packed. Five hundred people plus squeezed into this hall, yelling and screaming their opposition to the halfway houses. They didn’t want the, quote unquote,“crazies” living in their neighborhood.

Needless to say, the city council voted unanimously against the proposal. Not much discussion. A lot of yelling and a lot of screaming and the city council said no to the proposition. No sooner had they voted that the back doors of the auditorium were opened and in came Mother Teresa. She was in town for a ceremony dedicating a Sisters of Charity program and she heard about this meeting. She came down the center aisle and everybody gasped as Mother Teresa came to the front, got down on her knees in front of the city council, raised her arms and said, “In the name of Jesus, make room for these children of God! When you reject them, you reject Jesus. When you affirm them, you embrace Jesus.” And then with her arms upraised, five times in a row she said, “Please, please, please, please, please, in the name of God, make room for these people! Make room for them in your neighborhoods.”

Now, you’re on the city council, the television stations have followed Mother Teresa into the place and they’re grinding away. The newspaper reporters are there. There is Mother Teresa on her knees in front you. What are you going to do if you’re on the city council? You guessed it! “I move we change the decision.” And then a second to the motion and they voted unanimously to reverse the decision they had made a few minutes earlier. The newspapers reporting on this the next day said the most remarkable thing is that of the five hundred plus people packed into that hall, not a one of them uttered a word of opposition to the motion. Why? Because of Mother Teresa. She spoke as one having authority. Where did she get that authority? On the streets of Calcutta, loving sacrificing for the poor and the oppressed of the world, giving of herself to meet the needs of others sacrificially. Sacrificial love earned her authority.

Whenever the Church speaks with authority, people listen. But the Church has to be sacrificial. And I’m afraid that the Church has not been sacrificial enough. In these days of an economic downturn there is a tendency in the Church to say, well, we’ve got to keep our own building intact, we’ve got to take care of our own staff, we have our own needs. And I’m telling you that the church that forgets itself and sacrifices for the needs of the poor and the oppressed—not only in their own neighborhood but around the world—that’s the church that will speak with authority. The church that speaks with authority doesn’t have to resort to power. People will listen.

Jesus resorted to authority. They said in Scripture he speaks as one having authority. It says that he emptied himself of power in the second chapter of Philippians. He took upon himself the form of a servant—the word is actually “doulos” which means slave in the original Greek—and made himself of no reputation. And here it is: he humbled himself even unto death, even unto the death of the cross. But listen to me. It doesn’t end there. The passage of Scripture from the second chapter of Philippians goes on to say, “therefore God has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that the name of Jesus every knee should bow, every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But we Christians know that his Lordship was not built on power but on a cross. His sacrificial act of love earns him the name that is above every name.

You know this is true in the family, as well. I hear mothers and fathers say to me: “My son, my daughter doesn’t listen to me anymore! When I talk about God, when I talk about Scriptures, they roll their eyes and say ‘Do we have to listen to this?’ They just don’t listen!” I say it’s because you don’t have authority. “What do you mean I don’t have authority?” Well, the kids see you spend $150 for a ticket to go a football game and throw $5 into the offering plate for the poor. When you talk about God, that kid knows it isn’t serious. After all, you would have sacrificed in love if it was serious.

The Church, the family, you as an individual need to imitate Jesus who constantly turned away from power, constantly did the temptation experience. “Turn the stones into bread,” said Satan. Economic power. Jesus said no. “Go and jump off the pinnacle of the temple. Show them a miracle down there at the temple.” Religious power. Jesus said no. To the top of the mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. Political power. Jesus said no. I don’t want political power. I don’t want economic power. I don’t want religious power. I want to change the world by lovingly sacrificing for the poor and the oppressed because the more I sacrifice and love, the more authority I will have. In today’s world we need a Church, we need families, we need persons who are ready to sacrifice to meet the needs of others. That’s what changes the world.

Martin Luther King didn’t have political power, but he changed America. Mahatma Gandhi didn’t have political power. He never commanded an army. He changed a nation. I tell you that they understood Jesus better than most church people do. They understood that the way to change the world is not to impose your will on others but to lovingly sacrifice and earn the authority that when you speak, they will listen. They said of Jesus: He’s not like the religious leaders. He’s not like Herod. He’s not like Pilate. When this man speaks he speaks with authority. Would to God, we learn from Jesus.

Fears

I am watching Akeela and the Bee with my family (a movie everyone should watch) and this quote was read by Akeela while working with her spelling bee coach. I think it truly talks about my conflicts and struggles as clearly as anything I've read.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. - Marianne Williamson

I have spent much of my adult life thinking I was fearful of failure or my own inadequacies. It has only been in the past few years that I have come to the realization that my deepest fear is that God has blessed me with so many gifts and I am not living up to that potential. I also have a fear that I don't know how to live up to that potential. It leads me to shy away from being the leader and making the impact that I have been called and gifted to be. I don't mean this in an egotistical way and just by saying this I go back to my fear. No, I truly see the gifts of others and enjoy seeing the success of those around me while being fearful of my own success. I do not want to be egotistical, narcissistic or seen by others as selfish. I go to the extreme to prove this. Enough with the "I" statements. Let's look closer at this quote.

Powerful beyond measure....you know isn't that why those of us who are in education are really in it. There is true power in education, it is being an authority and using authority in a powerful and meaningful way. I am a true believer we will change this world not through force or intimidation or coercion but through the authority we get from God and the knowledge we gain. Truly the most powerful people in my time have been people that have not used coercion or violence but the power of the word, of knowledge, of passion, of faith. Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and historically speaking has anyone impacted our world more than Jesus. A lot of this thought comes from a sermon by Tony Campolo entitled "Earning the Right to Be Heard". I think I'll post this in another blog tonight as it is truly powerful.

Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
Here is where it is a tough line for me between being self-centered and being real, genuine, powerful, meaningful. A good friend once said that she hates being the center of attention but always seeks it out. I totally relate. I wonder if maybe that's where the struggle lies and without our faith we can't find that delicate balance. You see it's not seeking attention it's following your calling no check that it's following His calling and being bold in knowing that you are brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous not by my own doing but by the gracious gifts that are God given. And YES who am I to not be all that I have been made to be. It may be a greater sin or at least a greater failure for us not to be than to be self-centered in our life.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Think of those people in your life that have truly changed you, challenged you to be better, impacted how you see life and most importantly others. These people have shined their light and in the process given me and so many others permission to move mountains of all sizes. You know the people I'm talking about, they have a unique quality that is sincere and, here is that word again, genuine. They captivate you without trying. They find no shame in being brilliant, gorgeous, fabulous and talented and yet it is not egotistical. Lord I pray that all of us may feel this, experience this, be this by your grace.

I have so much work to do with this but I think I will read this quote each day and be reminded of who I am called to be. As my friend tells me so often, "Dave do we need to give ourselves a put-up today?" Oh I am given a put-up each and everyday when I get to be with my family, friends and Maker.

Don't you wonder?

I do plenty of head-scratching things in my life and I'm certain that more that a few times a day somebody wonders what my problems are. However, some observations over the past week have really made me wonder.

I'll start with our annual meeting at church last Sunday. I am now an employee of this congregation and certainly there are many fine people that are a part of this place. It is, like most places and most especially maybe churches, not without its dysfunction and conflicts. I wish to share one of these moments and some reflections on this. At this annual meeting one of the tasks is to nominate and elect new council members. These positions have had their stressful moments in the past few years and it is not easy to find members willing to put themselves in that position. We have a nominating committee and after many phone calls and numerous rejections they were able to get the three people necessary to fill the open positions.

Here's where the fun begins. One of the nominees received an anonymous phone call on her answering machine telling them that they weren't ready for such a position and that they should remove their name from the ballot. This person did end up pulling out. Now my thoughts.

This was so wrong in so many ways was my first reaction. I'm still there for the most part but am doing my best to see the side of the caller. Our pastor did a marvelous job of just stating the facts of what happened and that this is not how the business of the church should be done. What are my issues?:
1. Anonymous calls of this nature and well of any nature are just plain BS. Sorry I don't know how else to state that. If you truly feel that God has given you a message to protect this person or this congregation or whatever your purpose was, then go boldly with God's message and share it with your name, in person. This cowardice approach is just wrong. I most respect those that disagree or have a grievance with me who talk to me face-to-face and state their views and feelings. I may not agree, may take offense even, but I respect them. At least it is out in front of me to deal with. If you truly care and are concerned about me or the people I have relationships with then please let's keep these things out in the open. The behind the back, talk to everyone else, or doing it anonymously thing does not work towards peace and reconciliation, no quite the opposite. It is a sure path to hurt and escalated conflict.

2. I struggle with those who claim to know God's will more that others who are sincerely praying and listening to God's call. I don't want to be God and certainly don't pretend to have a more divine or direct route to His will but I also know that God does things out of love and calls us to do the same. I really have to question in these instances whether love was anywhere near the intention of the caller. Maybe it was and I should give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe God did send them to give this message. If so, the style of delivery sucks and because of my struggle with this I have sincere doubts about God's hand in that phone call. Wouldn't God want his people in that congregation to vote and let that be the will of God as to whether this person was "ready" to be on council?

3. Even in these times of disconcerting actions and I'm sure hurt for the person called, God was at hand. I started wondering about those people that do communicate what they believe to be His message in a positive, loving, non-anonymous way even if it is one that shakes the foundations of our comfort zone. Okay, I like those kind of messages unless of course they deal directly with me...HA! I think we all need to pray for the gift of discernment so that we can separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. There are undoubtedly numerous messages being given that are challenging, uncomfortable and hard to hear that are the voice of Jesus. God knows that in this era of unbelievable communication tools (internet, blogs, texting, skype, etc.) that for every message that is truly from above there are thousands and maybe millions that are not.

We as a congregation made through the meeting with a few scars but with God's hand still leading us. This will be something we can learn from, reconcile with, and hopefully find a way to be peaceful in our disarray. I go back to my days of being a varsity coach and having parents and players upset with me. Often times I probably deserved being admonished to some degree. That really isn't the point. I had a great deal of respect for those who were willing to share their disagreements in person and in a way that sought out resolution. We didn't always find a resolution but certainly had an opportunity to have a better understanding of where we each were coming from. This was far better for everyone than the behind the back or late night screaming phone calls that occurred on occasion.

Lots of other observations but this already too long. I have been blessed with some really powerful conversations with some very dear friends this past few weeks. If you are one who reads this, thank you! You have no idea what your presence in my life means to me. (I better let you know then, shouldn't I!)

Peace my friends!

Time for change

During these past couple of days with the MLK Day, the Inauguration of Barak Obama, and hearing one of my new favorite musicians, Heatherlyn, do her dedication to MLK I have been moved, challenged, and put into a great deal of pondering and thought. (That happens regularly so nothing real earth shattering there.) A conversation I had with some folks at a local restaurant resonated loudly with me. I will share that later but some background for me. I have long been intrigued by Black History and Native American History. Something about the atrocities that have happened to them and the resiliency of many people of all races to ensure that we all can learn to appreciate celebrate our similarities and differences has captured my passion.

On Monday I was delivering posters for Heatherlyn's gig at our church when I stumbled upon a couple of folks in a restaurant. I've known these folks for quite some time although not well. I would guess they are Republican based on other conversations I have had with them and as Seinfeld would say.."Not that there is anything wrong with that!" They have heard the band that I sing in a couple of times and asked if I had been singing much. This somehow led to a strange segue to a conversation on whether I had heard any of the music that was performed for Obama on MLK Day. Before I could answer they said they thought it was amazing that Garth Brooks stole the show from all of those "Black" groups. They went on to mention how the crowd responded best to Garth Brooks. I found out they had not watched any of it other than clips on the news which did feature Brooks. I did get the opportunity to watch some of the performances and came away with a much different view of the happenings. While Brooks certainly was well received, (I find it amusing however that it was for performing a Beatles song.) and I am admittedly not a Garth fan (except Garth from Wayne's World) the other performances that I saw were truly wonderful and very well received.

So why do I share this story? Heatherlyn debuted a new song about Climbing Shoes and the mountain that Dr. King started the nation climbing. Obama shared this quote today in his speech, "The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." You see we still have to keep climbing for people of all races, all origins, all income levels, all ages. I have read a couple of books the past few months that have really moved me to action. I'm not sure what all that action is but I can't sit and talk about it any more. I/we must keep climbing. God has called and maybe more importantly given us the tools to conquer the mountain. We are surrounded in our communities, in our schools, in our churches, in our world by people who still don't have the chance to fulfill the promise of peace and, I hesitate to use this word, prosperity. I'm not talking about living in monetary and material prosperity. No it's about prosperity of the heart, prosperity of charity, prosperity of compassion. That is truly life changing, world changing in all its beauty.

While leading a Bible study with some high schoolers from our church we were discussing justice issues and in particular homelessness. After a lengthy and powerful conversation one of the young people looked into my eyes and said Dave are we just going to talk about it or are we going to do something. Put the arrow right between the eyes or maybe more so pierce the heart. That's it, it is easy to philosophize, conversate, read about, and even donate an item from afar. But are we really developing a relationship with those in need or in some ways our Christ. Christ was a true radical in that he didn't just talk, he did, and not with those who were considered "in" no he hung out with the rift-raft of His day. He didn't send a bag of groceries to an anonymous place, he went right to the people in need. We in America have developed a nice cushion so we don't get too close to the hurt around us. This has helped insulate us from seeing our greed and selfishness I believe. Trust me I am as guilty at this as anyone could possibly be. I am going to challenge myself to take the cushion way. We need not just blunt, honest conversations but blunt, honest actions.

We will never perfect this as Christ was the only one who could and did. However, for myself anway, unless I seek this in my life, I will never feel fulfilled, never feel that I have used the gifts given me in the impactful way that God has called me to do. Put on your climbing shoes indeed!