“By compassion we make others’ misery our own, and so, by relieving them, we relieve ourselves also.” ~Thomas Browne, Sr., Revolutionary War soldier, and Superintendent of the Southern Indian Department (1750-1825)
She was a big woman; wrapped in a navy blue sweater, with a lime green bandana, flecked with red, engulfing her head.
“Look at me!” “I am strong.” “I am not sick.” “I want to live!” “And I am so very grateful for the food you give me.” “It helps keep my body well.”
Only minutes before, we had entered like rock stars processing down the center aisle of the packed, tented shelter. The audience greeted us with applause, cheers and smiles. Now, we were seated on dark green plastic chairs listening to the testimonies of the participants. Some of us were interspersed with the group, others sat facing them, but we were all brothers and sisters as one. We had come to feed and to be fed.
Once a month victims of HIV/AIDS and their families, the lepers of modern times, come to Holy Cross Catholic Church situated physically and emotionally in the heart of Dandora, Kenya, just outside Nairobi. Dandora is located literally at the city dump where 400 tons of refuse are deposited daily. Hogs root in the garbage while carrion birds circle overhead. Acrid smoke, produced by the heat of natural composting, rises from smoldering piles. Scavengers, of the human variety, pick through trash in an attempt to eek out a living from the discards of the more prosperous of society.
St Monica Catholic Church, through a ministry known as “Veronica’s Place” donates about $16,000 a year to feed those in Dandora who suffer with HIV/AIDS. Once a month they come to the parish to receive a small ration of corn meal, rice and a bit of oil. In this setting it is easy to imagine the prophet Elijah requesting a small cake made of oil and flour from an old widow.
Western stereotypes of AIDS sufferers are obliterated here. Many with whom we chatted were mothers with small children who gratefully identified the members of their families who were not HIV positive. Some were so weak their ability to accomplish the short walk back to their homes was in question. Even a decent bag to carry their food stuffs would have been a luxury for most. And yet they gave testimony to their gratitude for what they had received, little as it was by our standards.
Many of us exercise our bodies: at the fitness center, on the jogging trail or by participating in various sports activities. Some of us exercise our minds through a variety of academic endeavors, learning a foreign language, solving puzzles or reading. Some of us even work at improving our “Karma” through spiritual exercises, yoga, tai chi, or meditation. But how many of us exercise our hearts; not in the physical sense, but in a loving sense?
Muscles grow through a process of tearing down and rebuilding. Mental capacity grows by confronting our minds with new ideas, new obstacles, new challenges, but how do we grow and stretch our hearts. How do we expand our capacity to love? We do so by acts of compassion which require us to encounter the marginalized of our world…to challenge our hearts just as we challenge our bodies and our minds
Christian stewardship teaches us everything is a gift from God, to be received gratefully and returned to God with increase. We enter into this process by becoming conduits of God’s gifts and in so doing we enter, what Fr. Robert Barron refers to as, the “loop of grace”. When we enter this loop, through sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure, we find the more we give the more we receive. This occurs in part because gifts are not intended to be possessed, but rather to be given freely.
The poor, the destitute, the underprivileged, the marginalized, the lepers of society, viewed in this context, as potential recipients of our gifts, are no longer burdens to be shouldered, but opportunities to serve; invitations to enter the loop of grace, to practice compassion and to stretch our hearts, giving us an even greater capacity to love.
To those of us predisposed to exercise a steep hill can be viewed, not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity for a quick work out. A book can be something which collects dust or it can be a gateway to a new perspective or idea.
On that day, in that place, it would have been easy to despair; to be like the disciples telling Jesus, “We don’t have enough to feed these people,” but instead our hearts were stretched and our capacity for compassion expanded. Without disruption we entered the loop of grace and our lives were forever changed.
Dear God: help me each day to seek ways to stretch my heart; increasing my capacity for love.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dali Lama, Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner (b 1935)
© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
“90 Second Stewardship” All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Preparations
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” ~Psalm 91: 5, 6
The metal folding chair on which I sat was incredibly uncomfortable. It was one of only seven in the cramped narrow waiting room. In the only other occupied seat sat an anxious Asian gentleman. The wall was covered with a colorful photo montage style poster replete with pictures of lions, zebras, giraffes and grinning tribesmen in ceremonial garb. One was bent forward greeting the child of a European tourist whose back was to the viewer. “Visit Kenya” the poster read. For some reason, I had thought the Consulate of Kenya in LA would be bigger.
The service window was located at the far end of the waiting area. A movie theater style glass partition, with a beveled hole, through which to converse, and an arched slot at counter height, through which paperwork could be passed, separated “guests” from the office workers. In a few minutes, with any luck, two passports, with Kenyan Visas affixed inside, would pass through that slot into my waiting hands.
Procuring a travel visa takes time, effort and expense. Forms need to be completed on line and hard copies signed and submitted. Additional passport pictures are required and the Consulate only takes certified checks or money orders which requires an extra trip to the bank. Expedited service is also an additional charge. I had paid the extra fee so I could return in several hours rather than several days to retrieve my passports… and so I sat.
As I waited my mind rummaged through a random list of the preparations we had made thus far. You can tell a lot about a country by what you have to do to go there. The plethora of inoculations we had endured (Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Polio boosters, Tetanus boosters and even H1N1) was a clear indication of the level of health of the society. Malaria pills were prescribed as well. One out of four people in Kenya are infected with the disease. Mosquito repellent for body and clothes are also a must.
If inoculations are an indicator of the physical health of a society, currency will give you the vital signs of the economy. Exchanging currency into British Pounds or Euros is a bit like playing the stock market, but in third world countries it’s more like playing monopoly. A Kenya Shilling is worth less than 2 cents; a buck gets you 79 Shillings. In other words 34,000 Kenya Shillings are worth less than $500.00 US, indicating a weak economy and in turn a very poor country.
“Excuse me. Mistuh Cahpah?” The softly accented voice roused me out of my mental ramblings. There was a well appointed gentleman standing behind the glass; his crisp, white shirt, complete with gold cuff links, shone against his dark skin. As I stepped to the window he opened each of the two passports displaying the visa inside, assuring me all was in order. The visas were hand printed in “papyrus” script. I thanked him, shook his hand and happily headed for the elevator lobby, passports and receipt in hand.
If we plan on traveling there are preparations which need to be made. Some preparations are imposed upon us such as passports, visas, proper identification, etc. Other preparations are matters of comfort: the appropriate clothes and shoes, money to pay for necessities and frivolities, shelter (from tents to five star hotels), etc. Then there are those preparations which are for our health, well being and safety. Whether it be inoculations, insect repellent, being alert to dangerous areas or just having a pair of good walking shoes, safety is important. We ready ourselves physically, but we usually pay little attention to our spiritual preparedness. As we travel through life the one preparation most of us neglect is inviting God along in the form of the Holy Spirit.
God gave me a gentle reminder of this last week. I posted a light hearted comment on my Facebook page. It read “Teresa and I head for Dandora, Kenya to do missionary work for 2 weeks. Got the inoculations, got the visas, got the bug repellent...what am I forgetting???” I received many equally light hearted “shares” but one response, posted by a friend from South Africa, got my attention. “Read Psalm 91 every day,” she wrote.
South Africa has endured very troubled times over the last 30 to 40 years, but particularly in the 80's and 90's. In fact, in 1995 and 1998 South Africa led the world in reported murders. Life was not only uncertain, it was just plain dangerous; people murdered, homes, banks and businesses robbed, cars hijacked and their drivers and passengers slaughtered. At the same time however, there was an upsurge in prayer as the Holy Spirit moved through the country. All religions, Christian and non-Christian alike, prayed for peace; for an end to the death and destruction. Many began claiming protection under Psalm 91. Homes and businesses erected signs which read “Protected by Psalm 91” instead of “Protected by Brink’s Security”. Amazingly, none of those who claimed the protection of Psalm 91 were targeted.
As Christian Stewards we know prayer is an important part of our lives. As we make our preparations, whether it be for the coming day, a business meeting or a trip half way round the world, an important part of those preparations should be prayer and Psalm 91 is a good place to start.
Dear God: send your Holy Spirit to protect me today; to give me guidance and direction.
"Because they love me, says the LORD, I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name. They will call upon me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will deliver them and honor them.” ~Psalm 91: 14, 15
© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
“90 Second Stewardship” All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.
The metal folding chair on which I sat was incredibly uncomfortable. It was one of only seven in the cramped narrow waiting room. In the only other occupied seat sat an anxious Asian gentleman. The wall was covered with a colorful photo montage style poster replete with pictures of lions, zebras, giraffes and grinning tribesmen in ceremonial garb. One was bent forward greeting the child of a European tourist whose back was to the viewer. “Visit Kenya” the poster read. For some reason, I had thought the Consulate of Kenya in LA would be bigger.
The service window was located at the far end of the waiting area. A movie theater style glass partition, with a beveled hole, through which to converse, and an arched slot at counter height, through which paperwork could be passed, separated “guests” from the office workers. In a few minutes, with any luck, two passports, with Kenyan Visas affixed inside, would pass through that slot into my waiting hands.
Procuring a travel visa takes time, effort and expense. Forms need to be completed on line and hard copies signed and submitted. Additional passport pictures are required and the Consulate only takes certified checks or money orders which requires an extra trip to the bank. Expedited service is also an additional charge. I had paid the extra fee so I could return in several hours rather than several days to retrieve my passports… and so I sat.
As I waited my mind rummaged through a random list of the preparations we had made thus far. You can tell a lot about a country by what you have to do to go there. The plethora of inoculations we had endured (Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Polio boosters, Tetanus boosters and even H1N1) was a clear indication of the level of health of the society. Malaria pills were prescribed as well. One out of four people in Kenya are infected with the disease. Mosquito repellent for body and clothes are also a must.
If inoculations are an indicator of the physical health of a society, currency will give you the vital signs of the economy. Exchanging currency into British Pounds or Euros is a bit like playing the stock market, but in third world countries it’s more like playing monopoly. A Kenya Shilling is worth less than 2 cents; a buck gets you 79 Shillings. In other words 34,000 Kenya Shillings are worth less than $500.00 US, indicating a weak economy and in turn a very poor country.
“Excuse me. Mistuh Cahpah?” The softly accented voice roused me out of my mental ramblings. There was a well appointed gentleman standing behind the glass; his crisp, white shirt, complete with gold cuff links, shone against his dark skin. As I stepped to the window he opened each of the two passports displaying the visa inside, assuring me all was in order. The visas were hand printed in “papyrus” script. I thanked him, shook his hand and happily headed for the elevator lobby, passports and receipt in hand.
If we plan on traveling there are preparations which need to be made. Some preparations are imposed upon us such as passports, visas, proper identification, etc. Other preparations are matters of comfort: the appropriate clothes and shoes, money to pay for necessities and frivolities, shelter (from tents to five star hotels), etc. Then there are those preparations which are for our health, well being and safety. Whether it be inoculations, insect repellent, being alert to dangerous areas or just having a pair of good walking shoes, safety is important. We ready ourselves physically, but we usually pay little attention to our spiritual preparedness. As we travel through life the one preparation most of us neglect is inviting God along in the form of the Holy Spirit.
God gave me a gentle reminder of this last week. I posted a light hearted comment on my Facebook page. It read “Teresa and I head for Dandora, Kenya to do missionary work for 2 weeks. Got the inoculations, got the visas, got the bug repellent...what am I forgetting???” I received many equally light hearted “shares” but one response, posted by a friend from South Africa, got my attention. “Read Psalm 91 every day,” she wrote.
South Africa has endured very troubled times over the last 30 to 40 years, but particularly in the 80's and 90's. In fact, in 1995 and 1998 South Africa led the world in reported murders. Life was not only uncertain, it was just plain dangerous; people murdered, homes, banks and businesses robbed, cars hijacked and their drivers and passengers slaughtered. At the same time however, there was an upsurge in prayer as the Holy Spirit moved through the country. All religions, Christian and non-Christian alike, prayed for peace; for an end to the death and destruction. Many began claiming protection under Psalm 91. Homes and businesses erected signs which read “Protected by Psalm 91” instead of “Protected by Brink’s Security”. Amazingly, none of those who claimed the protection of Psalm 91 were targeted.
As Christian Stewards we know prayer is an important part of our lives. As we make our preparations, whether it be for the coming day, a business meeting or a trip half way round the world, an important part of those preparations should be prayer and Psalm 91 is a good place to start.
Dear God: send your Holy Spirit to protect me today; to give me guidance and direction.
"Because they love me, says the LORD, I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name. They will call upon me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will deliver them and honor them.” ~Psalm 91: 14, 15
© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
“90 Second Stewardship” All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Perfect Man
“Were I to await perfection, my book would never be finished.” ~Chinese Proverb
“On your left!”
Diane was flying down the bikeway on a junk run. She had done her regular work out in the early morning hours. Now she was just packing on some extra miles for good measure. It was a gift to be alive. She was, after all, a cancer survivor. It hadn’t been that long ago she was lying in a hospital bed. A well meaning nurse had told her, “Even though you’re terminally ill the good news is you’ll have time to travel if you want.” A little time to travel was a blessing? She didn’t want to travel! Diane wanted to live! Her Dad had told her, “You don’t get out of this life alive, Diane,” but he was in his 80’s for God’s sake.
Now, in full remission, she was training for a 100-mile bike race. She had been praying as she pedaled. “Dear God, send the perfect man for me.” It wasn’t her “first rodeo” so to speak, but now she had her life back. There should be someone with which to share it. “Dear God, send the perfect man for me,” she repeated like a mantra.
Suddenly she realized she was coming up on a skater; fast, too fast. “On your left!” she yelled out. Instinctively the skater swerved to his left directly into her path. “The other left!” Diane screamed as she skidded to avoid him. This time he went right and she slid left. Catastrophe avoided they made apologies to one another.
His name was Kirk and, as it turned out, they shared a lot of interests. A date was made and others followed. Then came the engagement and the wedding planning began. Diane’s cancer had left her unable to bear children, so they started adoption paperwork as well. In the blank marked “Preferred Race” they wrote “HUMAN”.
Then, amidst the flurry of preparations, came the diagnosis: Kirk had terminal leukemia; a few months perhaps. In her moments of despair Diane asked God a simple question: “Why?” The answer came quickly. Kirk was the “perfect man for her.” He was a man she loved deeply and cared for. He in turn, loved her. More importantly he needed someone to walk “the path” with him. A path she too had walked once before. A path she knew all too well. They were in fact, “the perfect couple”.
The wedding date was moved up and the preparations accelerated. The wedding was held at the local Lutheran church presided over by Kirk’s step-father. There had not been time to arrange the Catholic wedding for which Diane had hoped, but it didn’t matter. Like Diane and Kirk the two congregations came together as one. They returned from their honeymoon and shortly thereafter Kirk died. His legacy? Their adopted son, Steven; a blonde haired, blue eyed picture of his dad.
Diane’s prayer had been answered two-fold.
Our version of perfect is very different from God’s version of perfect. Our version of perfection typically means flawless, untainted, unblemished, and perhaps even pure. We think in terms of the “perfect job”, the “perfect car”, or the “perfect body.” Our version of perfection is literally overrated and yet we are more than willing to use any means possible to attain versions of this so-called “perfection”. Sadly, the pursuit of human perfection can be a road to false satisfaction and ultimately disappointment.
On the other hand, God’s version of perfection is one of “rightness.” Therefore, like Diane, if one prays for perfection what one will receive is not a flawless remedy, but the perfect answer to our prayers. Case in point, God’s response to Diane’s prayer was not a flawless human being and yet she and Kirk could not have been better suited for one another.
We expect God’s responses to be convenient, uncomplicated and appealing from a human point of view. God, however, doesn’t seem to operate this way. When we come to realize God’s answers to our prayers are not what we perceive as flawless, simplistic resolutions, it helps us to understand why God’s gifts don’t always seem like gifts. We live in an imperfect world; imperfection of our own making. It therefore stands to reason the remedies for our hardships will also seem imperfect at first. They are rarely what we expected.
This confusion over perfection versus rightness is not a new issue. For several thousand years perfection, or what we might call holiness, has been equated with moral purity. In an effort to be perfected (holy) we feel compelled to execute life, faith, morals, etc. flawlessly. Such an approach is doomed to disappointment.
In point of fact, to be holy means to “rise above” these things. “To rise above” does not mean to become superior to others. Rather it is an ability to move to a place above the noise and confusion of life and, from this vantage point, see its gifts and blessings…just as Diane came to see Kirk and the path they walked together as a gift.
Dear God, give me your perfect answers to my imperfect prayers.
“People throw away what they could have, by insisting on perfection, which they cannot have, and looking for it where they will never find it.” ~Edith Schaeffer, Christian author and co-founder of L’Abri (b 1914)
© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
“90 Second Stewardship” All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.
“On your left!”
Diane was flying down the bikeway on a junk run. She had done her regular work out in the early morning hours. Now she was just packing on some extra miles for good measure. It was a gift to be alive. She was, after all, a cancer survivor. It hadn’t been that long ago she was lying in a hospital bed. A well meaning nurse had told her, “Even though you’re terminally ill the good news is you’ll have time to travel if you want.” A little time to travel was a blessing? She didn’t want to travel! Diane wanted to live! Her Dad had told her, “You don’t get out of this life alive, Diane,” but he was in his 80’s for God’s sake.
Now, in full remission, she was training for a 100-mile bike race. She had been praying as she pedaled. “Dear God, send the perfect man for me.” It wasn’t her “first rodeo” so to speak, but now she had her life back. There should be someone with which to share it. “Dear God, send the perfect man for me,” she repeated like a mantra.
Suddenly she realized she was coming up on a skater; fast, too fast. “On your left!” she yelled out. Instinctively the skater swerved to his left directly into her path. “The other left!” Diane screamed as she skidded to avoid him. This time he went right and she slid left. Catastrophe avoided they made apologies to one another.
His name was Kirk and, as it turned out, they shared a lot of interests. A date was made and others followed. Then came the engagement and the wedding planning began. Diane’s cancer had left her unable to bear children, so they started adoption paperwork as well. In the blank marked “Preferred Race” they wrote “HUMAN”.
Then, amidst the flurry of preparations, came the diagnosis: Kirk had terminal leukemia; a few months perhaps. In her moments of despair Diane asked God a simple question: “Why?” The answer came quickly. Kirk was the “perfect man for her.” He was a man she loved deeply and cared for. He in turn, loved her. More importantly he needed someone to walk “the path” with him. A path she too had walked once before. A path she knew all too well. They were in fact, “the perfect couple”.
The wedding date was moved up and the preparations accelerated. The wedding was held at the local Lutheran church presided over by Kirk’s step-father. There had not been time to arrange the Catholic wedding for which Diane had hoped, but it didn’t matter. Like Diane and Kirk the two congregations came together as one. They returned from their honeymoon and shortly thereafter Kirk died. His legacy? Their adopted son, Steven; a blonde haired, blue eyed picture of his dad.
Diane’s prayer had been answered two-fold.
Our version of perfect is very different from God’s version of perfect. Our version of perfection typically means flawless, untainted, unblemished, and perhaps even pure. We think in terms of the “perfect job”, the “perfect car”, or the “perfect body.” Our version of perfection is literally overrated and yet we are more than willing to use any means possible to attain versions of this so-called “perfection”. Sadly, the pursuit of human perfection can be a road to false satisfaction and ultimately disappointment.
On the other hand, God’s version of perfection is one of “rightness.” Therefore, like Diane, if one prays for perfection what one will receive is not a flawless remedy, but the perfect answer to our prayers. Case in point, God’s response to Diane’s prayer was not a flawless human being and yet she and Kirk could not have been better suited for one another.
We expect God’s responses to be convenient, uncomplicated and appealing from a human point of view. God, however, doesn’t seem to operate this way. When we come to realize God’s answers to our prayers are not what we perceive as flawless, simplistic resolutions, it helps us to understand why God’s gifts don’t always seem like gifts. We live in an imperfect world; imperfection of our own making. It therefore stands to reason the remedies for our hardships will also seem imperfect at first. They are rarely what we expected.
This confusion over perfection versus rightness is not a new issue. For several thousand years perfection, or what we might call holiness, has been equated with moral purity. In an effort to be perfected (holy) we feel compelled to execute life, faith, morals, etc. flawlessly. Such an approach is doomed to disappointment.
In point of fact, to be holy means to “rise above” these things. “To rise above” does not mean to become superior to others. Rather it is an ability to move to a place above the noise and confusion of life and, from this vantage point, see its gifts and blessings…just as Diane came to see Kirk and the path they walked together as a gift.
Dear God, give me your perfect answers to my imperfect prayers.
“People throw away what they could have, by insisting on perfection, which they cannot have, and looking for it where they will never find it.” ~Edith Schaeffer, Christian author and co-founder of L’Abri (b 1914)
© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
“90 Second Stewardship” All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the ”© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.
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