It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. I generally write everyday even if it doesn’t get posted. It’s not because nothing has happened to the contrary, lots has happened, I’ve tried write, but I hadn’t fully processed everything and kept getting distracted.
I like the new people here a lot. I went out walking to the kids’ houses again with Crystal Kandoll. [(sings)it’s a small SDA world after all]. I’m developing insomnia. Had a couple sleepless (well 3 hours of sleep) nights. On the bright side I got to talk to a lot of people on Skype and Facebook. I gave the devotional at a morning meaning Monday, pretty much read through 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 (everyone knows 13, but a lot of people don’t know the context, it was super appropriate for where we were). People liked it. I got called a motherf****** yesterday. At least I think I did, it was hard to tell through the accent. And in retrospect I deserved it to some extent. I’m not gonna eat the Haitian kitchen food anymore. Imma give mine to someone else, first person who asks every day (yesterday it was an outpatient, today it was the translator who called me a less than polite name.)
Much of this has to do with the care package that arrived last week (again, THANK YOU RAA). Remember when I told you to read “Crazy Love”, if you did you remember Francis Chan mentioning Shane Claiborne and the “Simple Way” community. When I saw this I was immediately reminded of Shane’s book “The Irresistible Revolution”. I conditionally recommend it. It is one of those books that will mess you up. My dear friend Sterling Spence gave it to me about a year ago, I tried to read it and stopped because I really couldn’t take it anymore.
(SHOUT OUT TIME! Sterling and Alex Hirata are currently on the island of Yap teaching at the SDA school there. You can read their blog at http://yap2009.blogspot.com/)
Anyways, I asked my parents to send it in the next care package. When I got it I pretty much tore through it, finishing on Sunday. There are so many lessons to be learned and new perspectives to be gain. It’s also “kick in the face” moments when you straight up disgusted with yourself, it’s really not for people looking for a recreational/comfortable/easy read. You might be offended, you might get defensive, and you just might be inspired. I’m sure it will affect everyone differently; everyone has different backgrounds, values, and circumstances.
From the perspective of a guitar playing, bandana wearing, Christian, Hapa, Socialist, nineteen year old student from SoCal (who ironically detests labels), volunteering and living at a SDA hospital in post-earthquake Haiti, the thing that hit me the hardest was when Shane talked
about Matthew 25: 31-46.
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
I’m living among the “least of these”. And I really haven't been doing anything to help them on a personal level. I’m very focused on getting supply taken care of and getting volunteers to and from the airport, but the individuals fall through the gaps. Before this week my goal was to be remembered, or not, as a nice hard working kid. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about how hard work (among other things) is meaningless and concludes that we should “…Fear God and keep his commandments…” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). And what are the commandments? Well what would Jesus say? When asked in Matthew 22…
"37Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
When I hustle past that “mentally challenged” patient who tries to grab me every time I walk by, when I blow off the translators/patients/other people when they are incessantly ask me for food, money, my time, etc. (or worse??? fulfill the request reluctantly and grudgingly), when I look at the ex-pat volunteer with disgust after their display American arrogance/ignorance/insensitivity/self-righteousness, when I ignore the orphan who calls my phone 13 times a day…that's not loving. I’m doing that to Jesus. How’s that for a kick in the face?
That's where I am. Where has it left you? Who’s Jesus in your life? Think about it?
Thought about it? Good. Now do something about it.
In other news:
As far as “work” goes, I’ve accepted the fact that things run differently and I need to stop worrying about things I can’t control or change. I haven’t become apathetic, my focus is just different. I’m still gonna work hard of course, but “hakuna matata”.
Brooke comes back tomorrow.
3 people deleted me as friends on Facebook! Normally I wouldn't care, but I was 3 away from 777. Back to 771 (sighs). Don't laugh, it's not funny. Whoever you are add me back!
I still suck at reading the Bible. I’m a little more enthusiastic for the time being, but I lack focus and direction. Highlights of my recent reading: the first half of Proverbs 8 and 1 Corinthians 12-13.
“Don’t Trust Republicans! Amen!” Take it at face value, because only two people understand the deeper meaning. Let’s see how it goes.
Finally, Genesis 31:49. Look it up.
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