Work. Creation. Craft.
I love organizations who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. This is what Christ said was true religion; taking care of those who have need. I receive updates from groups like Samaritans Purse, Drs without Borders, and World Vision. I look through them, prayerfully considering the faces I see. I contribute as I am compelled. My heart is gripped tight with something more painful than sadness; a cry for justice. I am not sure why i think it is more painful, maybe because it is less passive; it is aggravated and sharp. Sadness suffers, but in the cry for justice there is the hope of liberation mingled with suffering and for me a bewildering urgency for strategy. So this cry of compassion goes up to the One who holds the scales, and to the One who pours out His liquid sanctification into the high bowl. I know that my Heavenly Father loves honest scales.
Over the last two years it has come to my attention that hunger is not the only necessity stolen from men. Many of these hungry or homeless, sit. I realize there is a desperate scheme at work here. It really is very difficult to do much when you are starving. But work focuses us, gives us something to hope toward. Some one told me that we actually cheat people out of work with our generosity. That seemed silly initially; I'm no strategist. But I think it is true. As difficult as it is to hear that women walk miles every day to get fresh water perhaps we should praise God that they have the hope of work every morning. I remember when I was a new mother I overheard two Christian women talking about there mansions in Heaven. These women were thrilled at the prospect of nothing to do... for eternity. Oh, Lord! That sounded like hell to me. Not to judge. We certainly have the ability, for better or worse, to work as hard as we can stand, here in the US. Some having to work a lot harder than others. But, the image got me thinking. I really sat and envisioned eternity without work, without intentional effort toward something. Then I imagined even a year with out the hope of work, and I am talking about achievement in even the smallest sense of the word; with no consideration to income. What would I do if I had no dreams, if I had nothing to plan for. At this juncture it occurs to me that sitting in the presence of my King would take up a thrilling portion of eternity, however, even He is not stagnant, but creative (originally the verb WORD). The faces and eyes seem to say "I want to live in the fullness of life".
Destiny, strategy, work. It is in Gods image. It is good!
I hope I can effect change. Change that creates a culture of stewardship and fruitfulness.
