As we’ve been reflecting on justice the last few weeks, here are some of the more profound quotes we’ve come across. Take them in and let them go to work. Shalom.
Culture
My Freedom Day
If you’re a Christ follower, you likely remember the day that you made the decision to follow and give your life to God. That memory for me is a magical one. A skinny little ten-year-old girl held her best friends’ hand, walked down the center aisle at a tent revival in a small country town on a hot summer night, and asked Jesus into her heart. Magical, right? Insert record scratch here. Although I am grateful for the sweet moment when I gave my life to Him, my true freedom (in Christ) day was more than thirty years later.
Spirit-fermented, Kingdom-culture
“I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.
I will honor all life
—wherever and in whatever form
it may dwell—on Earth my home,
and in the mansions of the stars.”
~Diane Ackerman
Child of God
Little Mia is only 7 years old. One afternoon she came running into the house after school. Full of emotion and nearly empty of breath as she ran to her room and closed the door. I have thought a lot about that day with Mia and I see myself in her a lot. Often we can run to isolate ourselves, clam up, or even shut down when things are bad or we are misunderstood. This is the exact moment that God is knocking on the door of our heart longing to sit with us, listen, and care for us.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month has been installed by necessity because black history has been grossly underrepresented when the storytelling of America has been told. As actor Morgan Freeman so concisely put it once, “Black history is American history.” This is why we have Black History Month – so that the fullness of the historical landscape of our country can be traversed. Pondered. Lamented. And built upon responsibly.
A World in Turmoil
As news outlets show live footage of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the world watches from a myriad of perspectives, whether sociological, financial, geopolitical, theological, etc. Regardless, the situation is real and the implications are vast. While the trauma of war is acute, hope is also, even if it isn’t always immediately clear.
When People Let You Down
You know that saying “wisdom comes with age,” I’ve never experienced that to be so true as realizing that all people are broken people. In naivety, I used to put people on pedestals thinking they were the exception to the rule, sure they weren’t perfect, but they were infinitely better than me. Time and failures on the part of those “nearly perfect” people were what finally exposed my faulty thinking.
Where Are You From?
Having just moved to Nashville, it is very common to get into a conversation and within the first 3 minutes the question is asked, “where are you from?”
The Path of Humility: Part 3
There are certain things The Bible is pretty grey about and there are other things that it could not be more clear about. Humility is the latter. The word “humble” is mentioned in scripture 56 times. That does not include the additional 29 times synonyms for “humble” such as “meek,” are mentioned. Zephaniah 2:3 commands us to “seek humility” in order to be hidden from the Lord’s anger. 1 Peter 5:5 commands us to “clothe ourselves in humility” because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Luke 1:52 says that God “exalts those who are humble.” The list goes on.
The Endless Pursuit of Satisfaction: Part 2
Do you ever have the thought “If only I could _________ then I’d be content”? “If only I could be ten pounds lighter, afford to live in that neighborhood, get married, land that gig, etc.” For me, it’s been weight. If only I could weigh “x” pounds, THEN I’d be confident in myself, happier, content, satisfied.