About a year ago I got home from spending three months in New Delhi, India. I deeply treasured the time I spent and the people I met there. When I think about the faces of the children, the food, the animals in the street, or the great hospitality we encountered... my heart aches. I long to hold those children again, sing songs with them like "o'lay lay tiki tanga, a masa masa masa," sit on the floor next to them eating rice with our fingers, and whisper prayers over them as we nap together in the hot afternoon. I long to sit with lepers and let them feed me chai and biscuits and make small talk in broken English and broken Hindi while the Hindi television programs blare in the background. I miss being welcomed into strangers' houses in the slums to pray and share the truth and life of Jesus. I know I will go back one day to these places... but for now I am waiting.
A few weeks ago I had a great realization. I miss India so deeply because I got to see the Kingdom of God come to life there. I got to show love to the "untouchable." I got to bring the light of the Holy Spirit in to very dark places. I got to see a little girl be healed from sickness. I got to build relationships with people I would have never encountered. I got to see light in darkness and color come from the dirt. The most meaningful part of my realization was the fact that the truth is I can find the Kingdom anywhere. God's Kingdom is not localized in New Delhi; it is a kingdom that stretches across the globe, across time, between dimensions, and reaches beyond our own galaxy. This Kingdom is enormous and far reaching but it is also intimate and immediate. Jesus told his disciples, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say 'Here it is' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20b-21). He also made clear that we should, "be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near." (Luke 10:11).
So if I am really longing to see the Kingdom of God, then I should be rejoicing because it is accessible anywhere. All I have to do is be intentional about seeking it out, living each day for the glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thankful for Anthony
In the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought I would tell a story I an thankful I am able to tell:
A few weeks ago I was in Asheville, NC to meet a friend for dinner and go to a show with her. I went up early to do some wandering and exploring. It was a cool rainy evening. I wandered for a while but shops started closing up for the evening and it was getting dark, so I found myself in a cozy coffee shop waiting for my friend to arrive. This little coffee shop is in the backside of a building in the basement. It is one of those coffee shops that attract the artsy and earthy, the bearded and bra-less of this world. One that serves organic fare-trade coffee in ceramic mugs and tofu wraps with avocado and sprouts. I walked in and instantly felt at home, I could be whoever I wanted to be with no pretenses. I ordered coffee (in a paper cup, because I though my friend might show up at anytime) and looked for a place to sit. Every table was occupied as the night was getting colder and this was such a cozy and free place to stay warm. I spotted a table in the back where an African-American man in his forties was sitting and reading. I approached and asked if I could share his table. He moved his bags around making more space for me and said that was no problem. I pulled out my journal and a book of Keats poetry that was in my purse. He asked me what I was reading and we exchanged a few sentences about journaling and then went quiet. I began writing about the day and journaling as I usually do, but as I wrote it dawned on me that the man I was sitting with was probably living on the streets. He looked world warn. The bags he had with him were grocery bags that were stuffed with what looked like a scarf and other random things. He was reading a small pocket sized book of some sort and hadn't bought anything to eat or drink. I started praying. I asked God to be with him, and to show this man His light, love, and breath. I asked God to work through me.
I continued to journal and read until I got a call from my friend. She was going to be later than she was planning and it was not going to work for us to get dinner together. She was going to give me another call when she got to the show and we were going to meet there. I then deliberated whether or not to get something to eat. I wasn't really that hungry and it was possible that my friend and I would get something to eat afterward but I ordered anyways. After ordering I went back to sit with this man, even though there were open tables and I was eating and he was not. I just felt like we had bonded in some way and I couldn't disregard that. I went back to reading and waiting. I started to wonder if this man had eaten or would eat. I wanted to bless him and thought maybe I could buy him food, but I didn't want him to think I saw him as a charity case. There were other potentially homeless people or at least people who were down-and-out in the coffee shop too. I didn't want to cause a scene.
The answer to my prayers came in another phone call from my freind. She had gotten there sooner than she thought she would and way trying to find the venue and parking. I had to leave to go meet her. My food hadn't come yet (praise God for slow service). I asked this man if he had eaten dinner yet. He looked up from his reading and looked surprised and slightly confused. He responded with a "yes ma'am" but I didn't believe him. I told him my situation, that I had ordered food but had to go and needed someone to eat it. I told him I would have the barista bring my food to him. I apologized that it was going to be a lot of veggies and I hoped he would like it. He thanked me at least three times and I told him (and really meant it) "God bless you." He then asked if he could show me something. I needed to leave but I said "sure." He pulled out of his coat pocket a little parallel Korean/English bible he had just gotten the day before at this Korean church he visited. Then he showed me that the little book he was reading was a Christian devotional book. This made my heart so full it almost burst. I smiled and asked what his name was. His name is Anthony. He asked mine as we shook hands. I was really sorry I had to leave. As I went back out on to the cold street and started walking to few blocks to where my friend was meeting me, I reveled in how God answered my prayer.
I have learned over the years that God does not always answer us in a way we can touch or even see, that often we have to simply trust that He is really moving. The way everything worked out that night was such a testimony to the fact that God is near, that He hears our prayers and answers them in tangible ways. What I was most excited about was not that I got to feed a homeless man dinner, but that God showed up and used me because I asked Him too. I hope this encourages you to step out, not just to do things outside your comfort zone, but to step out and ask God to use you. I think He will answer you.
A few weeks ago I was in Asheville, NC to meet a friend for dinner and go to a show with her. I went up early to do some wandering and exploring. It was a cool rainy evening. I wandered for a while but shops started closing up for the evening and it was getting dark, so I found myself in a cozy coffee shop waiting for my friend to arrive. This little coffee shop is in the backside of a building in the basement. It is one of those coffee shops that attract the artsy and earthy, the bearded and bra-less of this world. One that serves organic fare-trade coffee in ceramic mugs and tofu wraps with avocado and sprouts. I walked in and instantly felt at home, I could be whoever I wanted to be with no pretenses. I ordered coffee (in a paper cup, because I though my friend might show up at anytime) and looked for a place to sit. Every table was occupied as the night was getting colder and this was such a cozy and free place to stay warm. I spotted a table in the back where an African-American man in his forties was sitting and reading. I approached and asked if I could share his table. He moved his bags around making more space for me and said that was no problem. I pulled out my journal and a book of Keats poetry that was in my purse. He asked me what I was reading and we exchanged a few sentences about journaling and then went quiet. I began writing about the day and journaling as I usually do, but as I wrote it dawned on me that the man I was sitting with was probably living on the streets. He looked world warn. The bags he had with him were grocery bags that were stuffed with what looked like a scarf and other random things. He was reading a small pocket sized book of some sort and hadn't bought anything to eat or drink. I started praying. I asked God to be with him, and to show this man His light, love, and breath. I asked God to work through me.
I continued to journal and read until I got a call from my friend. She was going to be later than she was planning and it was not going to work for us to get dinner together. She was going to give me another call when she got to the show and we were going to meet there. I then deliberated whether or not to get something to eat. I wasn't really that hungry and it was possible that my friend and I would get something to eat afterward but I ordered anyways. After ordering I went back to sit with this man, even though there were open tables and I was eating and he was not. I just felt like we had bonded in some way and I couldn't disregard that. I went back to reading and waiting. I started to wonder if this man had eaten or would eat. I wanted to bless him and thought maybe I could buy him food, but I didn't want him to think I saw him as a charity case. There were other potentially homeless people or at least people who were down-and-out in the coffee shop too. I didn't want to cause a scene.
The answer to my prayers came in another phone call from my freind. She had gotten there sooner than she thought she would and way trying to find the venue and parking. I had to leave to go meet her. My food hadn't come yet (praise God for slow service). I asked this man if he had eaten dinner yet. He looked up from his reading and looked surprised and slightly confused. He responded with a "yes ma'am" but I didn't believe him. I told him my situation, that I had ordered food but had to go and needed someone to eat it. I told him I would have the barista bring my food to him. I apologized that it was going to be a lot of veggies and I hoped he would like it. He thanked me at least three times and I told him (and really meant it) "God bless you." He then asked if he could show me something. I needed to leave but I said "sure." He pulled out of his coat pocket a little parallel Korean/English bible he had just gotten the day before at this Korean church he visited. Then he showed me that the little book he was reading was a Christian devotional book. This made my heart so full it almost burst. I smiled and asked what his name was. His name is Anthony. He asked mine as we shook hands. I was really sorry I had to leave. As I went back out on to the cold street and started walking to few blocks to where my friend was meeting me, I reveled in how God answered my prayer.
I have learned over the years that God does not always answer us in a way we can touch or even see, that often we have to simply trust that He is really moving. The way everything worked out that night was such a testimony to the fact that God is near, that He hears our prayers and answers them in tangible ways. What I was most excited about was not that I got to feed a homeless man dinner, but that God showed up and used me because I asked Him too. I hope this encourages you to step out, not just to do things outside your comfort zone, but to step out and ask God to use you. I think He will answer you.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Through
This poem is dedicated to my Bible Study Girls (Sarah B, Lea, Michaela, Lauren M, Emily, Sarah H, Lauren G, Emiley, Carrie, Carla, and Blayney) and anyone else God has brought through.
Oh God
You are my god
I will earnestly seek you
Through the darkness
That never ends
Through the fear
That berates my soul
Through the loneliness
That haunts me
Through the waiting
That causes me to ache
I will follow
Even though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow
You are with me
Comfort and guide me
I will follow
Even though you take me
Through the sun parched lands
Where there is no water
Be my living water
You take me
Through
These places
Never to stay
Always moving forward
Walking the road
Before, behind, beside
You take me
To places higher
Further up
Further in
You are my way
The way through
Oh God
You are my god
I will earnestly seek you
Through the darkness
That never ends
Through the fear
That berates my soul
Through the loneliness
That haunts me
Through the waiting
That causes me to ache
I will follow
Even though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow
You are with me
Comfort and guide me
I will follow
Even though you take me
Through the sun parched lands
Where there is no water
Be my living water
You take me
Through
These places
Never to stay
Always moving forward
Walking the road
Before, behind, beside
You take me
To places higher
Further up
Further in
You are my way
The way through
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Ode to Womankind
Oh Woman
Thou art such mystery
Thou hast been granted
So much power, yet
Dangerous to clutch
Unwieldy to hold,
Meant to carefully
Bestow on others.
Crown of Creation
Laced with strength
Not to win wars
But hearts and minds,
Not to erect marvelous structures
But to enshrine and foster life
Within her own body,
To withstand the oppression of history
And pain of everyday living.
Beauty is not in thou might
But thy tender mercies.
Oh Adam
Though you might forget
You cannot live
Without your rib
Thou art such mystery
Thou hast been granted
So much power, yet
Dangerous to clutch
Unwieldy to hold,
Meant to carefully
Bestow on others.
Crown of Creation
Laced with strength
Not to win wars
But hearts and minds,
Not to erect marvelous structures
But to enshrine and foster life
Within her own body,
To withstand the oppression of history
And pain of everyday living.
Beauty is not in thou might
But thy tender mercies.
Oh Adam
Though you might forget
You cannot live
Without your rib
Saturday, November 6, 2010
When Words Come
When words come
It is release
Overflowing life
Signs of death
And of restoration
Beauty from ashes
When words come
They are from heaven
Given by the ultimate creator
Glimpses of angel wings
Sparks of divine fire
Kingdom coming
It is release
Overflowing life
Signs of death
And of restoration
Beauty from ashes
When words come
They are from heaven
Given by the ultimate creator
Glimpses of angel wings
Sparks of divine fire
Kingdom coming
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
October 8th 2009
afternoon sun pours
through horizontal brown slats
and patterned green glass
giving me verdant textured light
next to slender rectangles
of the outside world
where workers steadily carry brick
walls climb higher,
women move along
hips sway under loads
balanced perfectly on head
sprouts of vibrant color
in dust filled streets,
children sit in door way
passing time, watching
young man adeptly maneuver
bicycle through rubble,
street dog adjusts himself
in the pile of warm sand
near cube of neatly arranged brick,
jaunty push cart spills with colorful wears,
truck passes with a honk,
solitary peacock glides from roof to tree,
power lines swag from
pole to pole, house to house
smoke rises from incense and cooking
to feed body and soul
I can see all, but no one can see me
through horizontal brown slats
and patterned green glass
through horizontal brown slats
and patterned green glass
giving me verdant textured light
next to slender rectangles
of the outside world
where workers steadily carry brick
walls climb higher,
women move along
hips sway under loads
balanced perfectly on head
sprouts of vibrant color
in dust filled streets,
children sit in door way
passing time, watching
young man adeptly maneuver
bicycle through rubble,
street dog adjusts himself
in the pile of warm sand
near cube of neatly arranged brick,
jaunty push cart spills with colorful wears,
truck passes with a honk,
solitary peacock glides from roof to tree,
power lines swag from
pole to pole, house to house
smoke rises from incense and cooking
to feed body and soul
I can see all, but no one can see me
through horizontal brown slats
and patterned green glass
Friday, October 1, 2010
summer's end
There is so much beauty in a late summer afternoon
It is a time of so much change
When light
Becomes more than light
Enveloping the earth in newness
Caressing trees and glistening off streams
Like no other season
The light is gold
I want to strip
My clothes
My fetters
And dance in it
Letting the warmth cleanse and purify
Returning back to Eden
Back to perfection
Back to unity
Where love is pure
Where the music of the spirit is loud and clear
It is a time of so much change
When light
Becomes more than light
Enveloping the earth in newness
Caressing trees and glistening off streams
Like no other season
The light is gold
I want to strip
My clothes
My fetters
And dance in it
Letting the warmth cleanse and purify
Returning back to Eden
Back to perfection
Back to unity
Where love is pure
Where the music of the spirit is loud and clear
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