This week has left me with many markers pointing to God's goodness. Not that it's been an easy or carefree week - in fact, each day there have been disappointments or frustrations that have gotten me down. But each day there have been clear reminders of the goodness of God. Through life-giving conversations with friends, the beauty of creation, connections with co-workers, the smiles of children, and the special gift of new life, God has reminded me of the great blessings in life.
Usually things aren't this clear for me - my learning is usually much more muddled. Perhaps that's why I'm sharing this now...because God did make it clear that this is something to pay attention to. My prayer is that my eyes will always be open and attentive to see this. Amidst the small everyday struggles and the large overwhelming challenges, may we all see God and his goodness in this wonderful world.
It may sound funny, but the way I often experience joy is that songs will start welling up in my heart - and flowing out my lips :) Today the song in my heart was Louis Armstrong's classic "It's a Wonderful World". Here are the words...
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"
I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
One year out: Thoughts on work & life from "the other side"
As I attended Messiah's graduation this May, I remembered mine like it was yesterday - yet it also seemed like so long since I had walked across that stage. And as I wrote out this month's check for rent, I paused - it was exactly a year ago that I had begun this chapter of my life on 1527 Derry St. It made me ponder - what had I learned? How had I changed? What would I tell this year's seniors if I had the chance? So here are a few nuggets of wisdom, from my experience to yours...
There is such pressure as you graduate to "figure out what I'm doing with my life". The constant questions from well-meaning relatives and friends can be discouraging if you don't have a "good" answer. When I graduated I had ideas about what I wanted to do, but spent a whole summer unsure about what would be next. There will undoubtedly be times of uncertainty, of feeling "stuck", of knowing you have so much to give but having no outlet. They're hard, but they will pass sooner or later. I could not have imagined the ways that God provided for fulfilling and stretching work. Things will work out, although usually in ways that you never expected. That's how God rolls, it seems - God is full of surprises. God also likes to test our patience - but God will come through.
Whether you are looking for a job or have found one, know that there will never be the "perfect job" - but you can get pretty darn close. Every position will have its joys and frustrations, just as the skill-set you bring to it will have both strengths and weaknesses. But each experience for however long offers a great opportunity to learn more about what you want to do, what you love and are good at, and how you can grow and be better.
And you know what? You don't have to have it all figured out. I'm becoming more and more convinced that no one really does. Whether you're fresh out of college or in your 30s married with kids there are still transitions, there are still questions of what's going to happen next, of where to go and what to do, of how you can better live out your ideals and your vocation. The questions never end, but if you can find the peace to live in those questions, you'll be ok.
And I think it's pretty rare that we get clear answers. Maybe you will suddenly know for sure, "Ahah, this is what I will do for the rest of my life." But that's not the common experience. Rather, I think we are given clues along the way that point us towards what could be next. I've learned to pay attention to the things that energize and excite me, the things that fill me with joy, and the things that make me angry. All of these are clues to where my deep passions lie and when my work intersects with them.
I've also learned that changing the world looks different than I used to think. I imagined making sweeping changes in government policy, and spurring significant neighborhood revitalization. Now I see things differently. I haven't given up on my ideals, but I have learned in trying to live them out that change requires much time and commitment - it does not come quickly or easily. It requires humility in recognizing how much you have to learn, but also courage to go and try something even if you don't have it all figured out.
More often than not, living out your ideals will look very ordinary and you may feel like you're not doing very much. But in being counter-cultural day-in and day-out, you are extraordinary. And as a community of people - in your neighborhood and around the world - doing many small, ordinary things, little by little we are changing the world. It may not be as grand as you imagine, but it does matter.
To do any of this, though, community is essential. Messiah students, you'll chuckle, but it's really true. You can't live out your ideals alone. It's hard, doing community as imperfect people in a messy world. But it is totally and completely worth it - and if you don't have a good community, nothing much else matters. As much as jobs and other things have transitioned over the past year for me, it has been my community (near and far) which has remained constant. Find people who share your ideals, who will stand beside you, laugh and cry with you, live out your dreams with you, and sit with you in the questions.
You're gonna be alright :) Life on the other side is good.
There is such pressure as you graduate to "figure out what I'm doing with my life". The constant questions from well-meaning relatives and friends can be discouraging if you don't have a "good" answer. When I graduated I had ideas about what I wanted to do, but spent a whole summer unsure about what would be next. There will undoubtedly be times of uncertainty, of feeling "stuck", of knowing you have so much to give but having no outlet. They're hard, but they will pass sooner or later. I could not have imagined the ways that God provided for fulfilling and stretching work. Things will work out, although usually in ways that you never expected. That's how God rolls, it seems - God is full of surprises. God also likes to test our patience - but God will come through.
Whether you are looking for a job or have found one, know that there will never be the "perfect job" - but you can get pretty darn close. Every position will have its joys and frustrations, just as the skill-set you bring to it will have both strengths and weaknesses. But each experience for however long offers a great opportunity to learn more about what you want to do, what you love and are good at, and how you can grow and be better.
And you know what? You don't have to have it all figured out. I'm becoming more and more convinced that no one really does. Whether you're fresh out of college or in your 30s married with kids there are still transitions, there are still questions of what's going to happen next, of where to go and what to do, of how you can better live out your ideals and your vocation. The questions never end, but if you can find the peace to live in those questions, you'll be ok.
And I think it's pretty rare that we get clear answers. Maybe you will suddenly know for sure, "Ahah, this is what I will do for the rest of my life." But that's not the common experience. Rather, I think we are given clues along the way that point us towards what could be next. I've learned to pay attention to the things that energize and excite me, the things that fill me with joy, and the things that make me angry. All of these are clues to where my deep passions lie and when my work intersects with them.
I've also learned that changing the world looks different than I used to think. I imagined making sweeping changes in government policy, and spurring significant neighborhood revitalization. Now I see things differently. I haven't given up on my ideals, but I have learned in trying to live them out that change requires much time and commitment - it does not come quickly or easily. It requires humility in recognizing how much you have to learn, but also courage to go and try something even if you don't have it all figured out.
More often than not, living out your ideals will look very ordinary and you may feel like you're not doing very much. But in being counter-cultural day-in and day-out, you are extraordinary. And as a community of people - in your neighborhood and around the world - doing many small, ordinary things, little by little we are changing the world. It may not be as grand as you imagine, but it does matter.
To do any of this, though, community is essential. Messiah students, you'll chuckle, but it's really true. You can't live out your ideals alone. It's hard, doing community as imperfect people in a messy world. But it is totally and completely worth it - and if you don't have a good community, nothing much else matters. As much as jobs and other things have transitioned over the past year for me, it has been my community (near and far) which has remained constant. Find people who share your ideals, who will stand beside you, laugh and cry with you, live out your dreams with you, and sit with you in the questions.
You're gonna be alright :) Life on the other side is good.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
My "Blind Side"
I just saw "The Blind Side", and it blew me away. I'm always very impacted by movies and stories, but this one was particularly meaningful because it was a true story. It was inspiring, but real. It wasn't a perfect story, but it was a hopeful story. It showcased one success story, but didn't pretend that this wasn't the exception instead of the rule. It was solid. It was sassy. It was gritty. It was funny. It was REAL. And I think that's what I appreciated most about it.
Now I am filled with so many emotions. Joy - for the success of this young man and his new family. Sadness - for all those who won't have the same chances, and whose lives will be cut short. And more than anything else, it leaves me with an overwhelming sense of wanting to do and be more. What would it look like for me to practice radical hospitality like this family did? What kind of community could I be a part of where this would not only be possible but supported?
I'm in this place where I am constantly wanting to do more in so many ways, but feel limited by my current commitments. I deeply value the things that I am doing now, but it often seems so small and insignificant. At times like this my heart just cries out - to do something bigger and more meaningful. How do I become part of this neighborhood and really invest here? How do I practice radical community living? What do I do with my dream of buying and rehabbing a house? How can I learn more, grow more? How do I fulfill this cry of my heart?
Being confronted by my own inadequacies is hard when I'm so full of passion. But passion isn't enough. Change takes commitment and perseverance, time and energy. Although I know I fall short in so many ways, I take some comfort in a quote that's painted on the fence around the Allison Hill mural. It says: "Courage doesn't always roar - sometimes it's the quiet voice that says 'I will try again tomorrow.'" Give me that kind of courage, God. Amen.
Now I am filled with so many emotions. Joy - for the success of this young man and his new family. Sadness - for all those who won't have the same chances, and whose lives will be cut short. And more than anything else, it leaves me with an overwhelming sense of wanting to do and be more. What would it look like for me to practice radical hospitality like this family did? What kind of community could I be a part of where this would not only be possible but supported?
I'm in this place where I am constantly wanting to do more in so many ways, but feel limited by my current commitments. I deeply value the things that I am doing now, but it often seems so small and insignificant. At times like this my heart just cries out - to do something bigger and more meaningful. How do I become part of this neighborhood and really invest here? How do I practice radical community living? What do I do with my dream of buying and rehabbing a house? How can I learn more, grow more? How do I fulfill this cry of my heart?
Being confronted by my own inadequacies is hard when I'm so full of passion. But passion isn't enough. Change takes commitment and perseverance, time and energy. Although I know I fall short in so many ways, I take some comfort in a quote that's painted on the fence around the Allison Hill mural. It says: "Courage doesn't always roar - sometimes it's the quiet voice that says 'I will try again tomorrow.'" Give me that kind of courage, God. Amen.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
What's next?
That's the question that's been on my mind this week. People tell me that I'm good at living in the present and not worrying too much about the future. And that's been true until recently, when I've been forced to think about what's next for me.
It's funny because in some ways I feel like I'm right back where I was at this time last year - trying to figure out what to do after May when I leave Messiah. In a lot of ways, though, it is an entirely different situation. I have learned and grown a lot in this first year out of college, and some things have been established that will not change. I am committed to my community here, my neighborhood on Allison Hill, and the city of Harrisburg for the foreseeable future - rooted to a sense of people and place.
Yet my sense of vocation is still very-much ambiguous. If anything, it has broadened in the last year even while I have gained more specific experience. And at this juncture, it is almost harder to discern. Last spring I had some very specific ideas about what I wanted to do, none of which I actually ended up doing. Now, I have developed a good sense of my passions and skills more broadly, but am quite unclear how that will translate into actual jobs that are available.
All I know is this. I want to fight injustices however I can, and have a particular passion for racism, poverty, education, healthcare, and urban issues. I possess the gifts of leadership, administration, and teaching. I love being an educator and communicator to challenge, inform, and persuade people. I love being an administrator and program manager, assessing and improving programs and organizing people and resources around a particular goal. Too often these types of roles are divorced from eachother, but I want to bring them together to change people AND change policies. I want to bring stake-holders together to work on solutions, and teach and empower people to make things happen.
Basically, I want the best of both worlds. Maybe it's too much to ask, and I don't know what it would look like, but that is where I am. It's a confusing place to be, and I wish there were more clarity and direction. I don't know where I'm going...but I guess I'll know when I get there.
One of the songs on my playlist right now is "Dreams" by The Cranberries:
Oh, my life is changing everyday,
In every possible way.
And oh, my dreams, it's never quite as it seems,
Never quite as it seems.
I know I've felt like this before, but now I'm feeling it even more,
Because it came from you.
And then I open up and see the person falling here is me,
A different way to be.
Ah, la da ah...
La...
I want more impossible to ignore,
Impossible to ignore.
And they'll come true, impossible not to do,
Impossible not to do.
It's funny because in some ways I feel like I'm right back where I was at this time last year - trying to figure out what to do after May when I leave Messiah. In a lot of ways, though, it is an entirely different situation. I have learned and grown a lot in this first year out of college, and some things have been established that will not change. I am committed to my community here, my neighborhood on Allison Hill, and the city of Harrisburg for the foreseeable future - rooted to a sense of people and place.
Yet my sense of vocation is still very-much ambiguous. If anything, it has broadened in the last year even while I have gained more specific experience. And at this juncture, it is almost harder to discern. Last spring I had some very specific ideas about what I wanted to do, none of which I actually ended up doing. Now, I have developed a good sense of my passions and skills more broadly, but am quite unclear how that will translate into actual jobs that are available.
All I know is this. I want to fight injustices however I can, and have a particular passion for racism, poverty, education, healthcare, and urban issues. I possess the gifts of leadership, administration, and teaching. I love being an educator and communicator to challenge, inform, and persuade people. I love being an administrator and program manager, assessing and improving programs and organizing people and resources around a particular goal. Too often these types of roles are divorced from eachother, but I want to bring them together to change people AND change policies. I want to bring stake-holders together to work on solutions, and teach and empower people to make things happen.
Basically, I want the best of both worlds. Maybe it's too much to ask, and I don't know what it would look like, but that is where I am. It's a confusing place to be, and I wish there were more clarity and direction. I don't know where I'm going...but I guess I'll know when I get there.
One of the songs on my playlist right now is "Dreams" by The Cranberries:
Oh, my life is changing everyday,
In every possible way.
And oh, my dreams, it's never quite as it seems,
Never quite as it seems.
I know I've felt like this before, but now I'm feeling it even more,
Because it came from you.
And then I open up and see the person falling here is me,
A different way to be.
Ah, la da ah...
La...
I want more impossible to ignore,
Impossible to ignore.
And they'll come true, impossible not to do,
Impossible not to do.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
In anticipation of Lent...
Ash Wednesday is approaching, and I find myself in excited anticipation for this season of Lent. I deeply value times set aside for reflection, discipline, and growth and that is what I have found this season to be.
It is a time of preparation leading up to Easter when we have the opportunity to stop and re-evaluate where we are, and focus intentionally on how we would like to change. Specifically, fasting from those things in our lives that hold us back from growing in our relationship with God.
Through reflection over the past few weeks, I have decided to fast from TV shows and other things in my life that serve as distractions. I've become more cognizant of the fact that when I am exhausted after work or have had a rough day, I tend towards escapism - which often manifests itself in watching an episode of a TV show online. I justify this to myself, saying that "I just need to forget about life right now" or "I just need to do something mindless for awhile". But really I am shutting down and trying to escape from my reality, which I don't think is a healthy response. So during Lent this year I am going to be intentional about processing through what is going on rather than gravitating towards entertainment.
But Lent is about adding more than subtracting, and so as I remove time spent "escaping" I will be focused on replacing that with time spent engaging with God and growing in Him. Dedicating daily time to prayer, reading, and meditation has always been hard for me, but I am excited for this opportunity to make a renewed effort. I am a person who likes structure, so I have made some "well-planned steps" (as Henri Nowen puts it) as a way to create discipline. Although ideally we should "pray without ceasing", realistically I've identified several key times during the day when I can pause and focus on God. I am excited about following the Lenten readings...I've come to value the words and litanies of others more as of late, and eager to learn from them.
So these are my hopes for this season...what are yours? My prayer is that God will guide us in drawing closer to Him, and being molded into the people He desires us to be.
It is a time of preparation leading up to Easter when we have the opportunity to stop and re-evaluate where we are, and focus intentionally on how we would like to change. Specifically, fasting from those things in our lives that hold us back from growing in our relationship with God.
Through reflection over the past few weeks, I have decided to fast from TV shows and other things in my life that serve as distractions. I've become more cognizant of the fact that when I am exhausted after work or have had a rough day, I tend towards escapism - which often manifests itself in watching an episode of a TV show online. I justify this to myself, saying that "I just need to forget about life right now" or "I just need to do something mindless for awhile". But really I am shutting down and trying to escape from my reality, which I don't think is a healthy response. So during Lent this year I am going to be intentional about processing through what is going on rather than gravitating towards entertainment.
But Lent is about adding more than subtracting, and so as I remove time spent "escaping" I will be focused on replacing that with time spent engaging with God and growing in Him. Dedicating daily time to prayer, reading, and meditation has always been hard for me, but I am excited for this opportunity to make a renewed effort. I am a person who likes structure, so I have made some "well-planned steps" (as Henri Nowen puts it) as a way to create discipline. Although ideally we should "pray without ceasing", realistically I've identified several key times during the day when I can pause and focus on God. I am excited about following the Lenten readings...I've come to value the words and litanies of others more as of late, and eager to learn from them.
So these are my hopes for this season...what are yours? My prayer is that God will guide us in drawing closer to Him, and being molded into the people He desires us to be.
Friday, February 5, 2010
This is my single status, my declaration of independance...
Transport yourself to New England, 1954, where the brightest women in the country go to school at Wesley - and prepare for lives as the next generation of wives and mothers. Higher education does not translate into career - it's merely a time of preparation before the ladies get their rings and "Mrs.". This is the world that Katherine Ann Watson (Julia Roberts) enters in "Mona Lisa Smile".
I liked Julia Roberts' character because she was a rebel - refusing to conform to the expectations of that time and place, and trying to teach her students that there can be more to life than getting married and having babies. Although much has changed for the better in the last 50 years, these expectations of being a wife and a mother - and now having a career - are still very-much alive. Why is it shocking to people that I don't necessarily want to get married or have children? Why must I explain to people my single status? Pop culture is in love with being in love, and even Christian culture is very marriage- and family-oriented. Some things that irk me:
The Facebook ads that forever pop up asking me if I want a boyfriend or telling me where to meet nice Christian men - just because my profile lists me as "single".
The fact that every time I turn on the radio, all I ever hear are songs of varying forms on the same theme - "I love you, baby" "I'm lost without you" "I need you more and more" "I want you back" "don't break my heart", etc.
And don't even get me started on chick flicks! Aside from the ridiculous scenarios of meeting and courting and the short time lapses between the main characters meeting, falling in love, and sleeping together and/or getting married, I am bothered by the general glorification of romantic relationships where all you need is eachother and you live "happily ever after". It feeds this desire for women to find that perfect guy who meets all of their needs - setting up unrealistic expectations and creating discontentment.
At every turn we are told that it is not ok to be single - this is just some kind of holding area as we bide our time until "Mr. Right" comes along. We are not complete, we are not whole, we are not all that we can be without a "significant other". What does it say about our society when an 8-year-old girl tells me that she feels sorry for me because I don't have a boyfriend? I feel sorry for her for being taught that she is not complete without one.
Now let me pause and clarify that I am not totally against love and relationships and marriage - I have many friends who are married, engaged, dating, etc. and I am honestly and sincerely happy for them, and I can see what a beautiful thing they have. I also see some of the hard parts of it. But what I resist is the notion that that is the only thing that there is to strive for.
I want to live in a society where my single status is not pitied, but celebrated. I am independent, with few responsibilities and much time and passion to throw into whatever I am doing. I have wonderful friends and faith communities to share with, laugh with, and draw support from. I don't need a relationship. Honestly, I don't want a relationship. And I certainly don't need anyone's pity.
To close my little rant, here's the song that's been my anthem - Natasha Bedingfield's "Single":
I'm not waiting around for a man to save me
('Cos I'm happy where I am)
Don't depend on a guy to validate me
(No no)
I don't need to be anyone's baby
(Is that so hard to understand?)
No I don't need another half to make me... whole
Make your move if you want
Doesn't mean I will or won't
I'm free to make my mind up
You either got it or you don't
[Chorus:]
This is my current single status
My declaration of independence
There's no way I'm trading places
Right now a star's in the ascendant
I'm single
(Right now)
That's how I wanna be
I'm single
(Right now)
That's how I'm gonna be
Don't need to be on somebody's arm to look good
(I like who I am)
I'm not saying I don't wanna fall in love 'cos I would
I'm not gonna get hooked up just 'cos you say I should
(Can't romance on demand)
I'm gonna wait so I'm sorry if you misunderstood
I liked Julia Roberts' character because she was a rebel - refusing to conform to the expectations of that time and place, and trying to teach her students that there can be more to life than getting married and having babies. Although much has changed for the better in the last 50 years, these expectations of being a wife and a mother - and now having a career - are still very-much alive. Why is it shocking to people that I don't necessarily want to get married or have children? Why must I explain to people my single status? Pop culture is in love with being in love, and even Christian culture is very marriage- and family-oriented. Some things that irk me:
The Facebook ads that forever pop up asking me if I want a boyfriend or telling me where to meet nice Christian men - just because my profile lists me as "single".
The fact that every time I turn on the radio, all I ever hear are songs of varying forms on the same theme - "I love you, baby" "I'm lost without you" "I need you more and more" "I want you back" "don't break my heart", etc.
And don't even get me started on chick flicks! Aside from the ridiculous scenarios of meeting and courting and the short time lapses between the main characters meeting, falling in love, and sleeping together and/or getting married, I am bothered by the general glorification of romantic relationships where all you need is eachother and you live "happily ever after". It feeds this desire for women to find that perfect guy who meets all of their needs - setting up unrealistic expectations and creating discontentment.
At every turn we are told that it is not ok to be single - this is just some kind of holding area as we bide our time until "Mr. Right" comes along. We are not complete, we are not whole, we are not all that we can be without a "significant other". What does it say about our society when an 8-year-old girl tells me that she feels sorry for me because I don't have a boyfriend? I feel sorry for her for being taught that she is not complete without one.
Now let me pause and clarify that I am not totally against love and relationships and marriage - I have many friends who are married, engaged, dating, etc. and I am honestly and sincerely happy for them, and I can see what a beautiful thing they have. I also see some of the hard parts of it. But what I resist is the notion that that is the only thing that there is to strive for.
I want to live in a society where my single status is not pitied, but celebrated. I am independent, with few responsibilities and much time and passion to throw into whatever I am doing. I have wonderful friends and faith communities to share with, laugh with, and draw support from. I don't need a relationship. Honestly, I don't want a relationship. And I certainly don't need anyone's pity.
To close my little rant, here's the song that's been my anthem - Natasha Bedingfield's "Single":
I'm not waiting around for a man to save me
('Cos I'm happy where I am)
Don't depend on a guy to validate me
(No no)
I don't need to be anyone's baby
(Is that so hard to understand?)
No I don't need another half to make me... whole
Make your move if you want
Doesn't mean I will or won't
I'm free to make my mind up
You either got it or you don't
[Chorus:]
This is my current single status
My declaration of independence
There's no way I'm trading places
Right now a star's in the ascendant
I'm single
(Right now)
That's how I wanna be
I'm single
(Right now)
That's how I'm gonna be
Don't need to be on somebody's arm to look good
(I like who I am)
I'm not saying I don't wanna fall in love 'cos I would
I'm not gonna get hooked up just 'cos you say I should
(Can't romance on demand)
I'm gonna wait so I'm sorry if you misunderstood
Monday, January 18, 2010
Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King...
...And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound
-James Taylor "Shed a Little Light"
For the past number of weeks and months, much of my work has centered around preparing for Martin Luther King Day, Messiah's day to engage students in learning, serving, and reflecting on how the legacy of Dr. King is being lived out in Harrisburg today. Today was the day, and everything went wonderfully, but only now am I able to personally reflect on the significance of this day. I've been so caught up in seating arrangements and making sure we have enough cups and finding the right budget codes that only now that it's all over can I fully appreciate what this is all about.
It's about planting the seeds that will one day grow, and watering seeds that are already planted. It's about seeing students who are just being exposed to ideas of justice and service start to ask questions, and seeing students who have developed deep and thoughtful insights share those with others.
It's about honoring our Community Partners, individuals and organizations in the community that are working tirelessly everyday, living out Dr. King's vision of equality and justice in very tangible ways.
And it's about stepping back to think about the big picture - to recognize the great life and work of Dr. King and so many others who have gone before us. Re-reading some of Dr. King's speeches still gives me the chills - someone so passionate and so eloquent and so effective in rallying people around this cause so dear to his heart. Although his life was cut tragically short, it is his legacy that lives on.
And if we want to truly honor Dr. King today, then we must challenge ourselves to see how we can be living out his vision in our daily lives. There are so many injustices in our world that's it's easy to become numb to it all. But although we can't solve all the problems of the world, God has placed within us certain passions, gifts, and abilities in order to serve his kingdom. It is our job to explore how we can use there in our particular place in this particular time. May God help us in this endeavor...
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound
-James Taylor "Shed a Little Light"
For the past number of weeks and months, much of my work has centered around preparing for Martin Luther King Day, Messiah's day to engage students in learning, serving, and reflecting on how the legacy of Dr. King is being lived out in Harrisburg today. Today was the day, and everything went wonderfully, but only now am I able to personally reflect on the significance of this day. I've been so caught up in seating arrangements and making sure we have enough cups and finding the right budget codes that only now that it's all over can I fully appreciate what this is all about.
It's about planting the seeds that will one day grow, and watering seeds that are already planted. It's about seeing students who are just being exposed to ideas of justice and service start to ask questions, and seeing students who have developed deep and thoughtful insights share those with others.
It's about honoring our Community Partners, individuals and organizations in the community that are working tirelessly everyday, living out Dr. King's vision of equality and justice in very tangible ways.
And it's about stepping back to think about the big picture - to recognize the great life and work of Dr. King and so many others who have gone before us. Re-reading some of Dr. King's speeches still gives me the chills - someone so passionate and so eloquent and so effective in rallying people around this cause so dear to his heart. Although his life was cut tragically short, it is his legacy that lives on.
And if we want to truly honor Dr. King today, then we must challenge ourselves to see how we can be living out his vision in our daily lives. There are so many injustices in our world that's it's easy to become numb to it all. But although we can't solve all the problems of the world, God has placed within us certain passions, gifts, and abilities in order to serve his kingdom. It is our job to explore how we can use there in our particular place in this particular time. May God help us in this endeavor...
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