I spent last week in Long Island, NY with a group from the Clemson Wesley Foundation, doing relief work in communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Our home base was Hicksville United Methodist Church, and each day we would split in to two groups. My group worked out of Massapequa UMC. We were at a different house each day, and it was a privilege to meet so many people and to see so much of the area. Unlike Katrina, Sandy did not wipe out vast swaths of houses and land; but rather, the damage is spotty, but nonetheless devastating.
There were, of course, so many memorable moments throughout the week- moments in which I felt anger, frustration, joy, and sadness- but the most poignant occurred Thursday afternoon as my friend, Jessica, and I stood in the kitchen of Ms. Gennie, whose house was by far the worst I saw all week. As we picked up the remnants of her artwork, which had been flung from the back of the house and into the kitchen, I was filled with a mix of emotions- joy in being able to meet Ms. Gennie and stand with her in the midst of this tragic loss; anger at her crappy situation; and sorrow as I saw the sadness in her face. She did tell us that our help allowed her to begin to feel some hope and to begin facing the task of moving forward, and for that I am grateful.
I saw the Lord's face in those of the people we met and served. And I saw His kingdom come to earth as we talked and prayed with them and even as we ripped up floorboards and bagged trash. Like most mission trips I have been a part of, our presence was more important than any of the physical labor we did. Most of the homeowners we met were surprised to learn that we had come all the way from SC to help out. That's not to say that we are so great for doing what we did, but I do think that in giving up part of our Christmas break to drive 800 miles to muck and gut houses is a shining example of answering Jesus' call to help people in need and to bring His kingdom to earth.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
In Response to CT
Like most everyone, I am saddened by this morning's tragedy in Connecticut. The loss of any life is appalling, but the death of young children seems particularly so.
Folks are already shouting about the need for stricter gun control and tighter security around schools. (It should be noted that a lot, if not most, people who commit murder obtain their weapons legally.) Short of destroying every existing weapon on the planet and ensuring that no more guns/bombs are manufactured, I'm not sure what can be done to keep weapons away from anyone with the potential for violence. And don't we all have within us the potential to kill and be violent? I certainly do not seek to claim that I am above such behavior. We, God's people, are not essentially good, and I think there is ample evidence to support that belief.
Beneath concerns about gun control, security, and background checks lies a deeper issue. Donald Miller, in his book Through Painted Deserts, says that "Why" questions are more potent than "How" questions; and I think this idea is particularly applicable to the situation at hand. Instead of asking "How can we keep people from getting guns?" or "How can we prevent killings in schools and public places?" we should ask "Why do these things keep happening?" "Why do people kill?" and "Why do seemingly 'normal' people commit such atrocities?"
There is most certainly a need for greater attention paid towards mental illness, for no one in their "right mind" kills others with disregard. But even this is an insufficient resolution. We live in a society that cultivates violence and disregard for the worth of all people. We sit by idly while men, women and children die of preventable diseases. We drop bombs paid for with money that reads "In God We Trust." We are told that those who are different or those who "hate America" deserve to die, that they are less than human. We train young men and women to kill. And many professing Christians are at the helm of such rhetoric, leading the charge to the beat of the military drum. Soon, others become faceless bodies rather than fellow men whose lives are precious to our Lord.
If I seek to follow Jesus, I cannot advocate for or rejoice in the death of anyone. The lives of the children in Newtown, CT are no less precious than the lives of Iraqis, Venezuelans, Russians, Canadians, Mexicans, or even the leaders of Al Qaeda. As Jesus' disciple, I seek to value all human life as He does. And until we do so, how can we expect things to be different?
Folks are already shouting about the need for stricter gun control and tighter security around schools. (It should be noted that a lot, if not most, people who commit murder obtain their weapons legally.) Short of destroying every existing weapon on the planet and ensuring that no more guns/bombs are manufactured, I'm not sure what can be done to keep weapons away from anyone with the potential for violence. And don't we all have within us the potential to kill and be violent? I certainly do not seek to claim that I am above such behavior. We, God's people, are not essentially good, and I think there is ample evidence to support that belief.
Beneath concerns about gun control, security, and background checks lies a deeper issue. Donald Miller, in his book Through Painted Deserts, says that "Why" questions are more potent than "How" questions; and I think this idea is particularly applicable to the situation at hand. Instead of asking "How can we keep people from getting guns?" or "How can we prevent killings in schools and public places?" we should ask "Why do these things keep happening?" "Why do people kill?" and "Why do seemingly 'normal' people commit such atrocities?"
There is most certainly a need for greater attention paid towards mental illness, for no one in their "right mind" kills others with disregard. But even this is an insufficient resolution. We live in a society that cultivates violence and disregard for the worth of all people. We sit by idly while men, women and children die of preventable diseases. We drop bombs paid for with money that reads "In God We Trust." We are told that those who are different or those who "hate America" deserve to die, that they are less than human. We train young men and women to kill. And many professing Christians are at the helm of such rhetoric, leading the charge to the beat of the military drum. Soon, others become faceless bodies rather than fellow men whose lives are precious to our Lord.
If I seek to follow Jesus, I cannot advocate for or rejoice in the death of anyone. The lives of the children in Newtown, CT are no less precious than the lives of Iraqis, Venezuelans, Russians, Canadians, Mexicans, or even the leaders of Al Qaeda. As Jesus' disciple, I seek to value all human life as He does. And until we do so, how can we expect things to be different?
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