Morning surprise part 2

. . . The city had called me back to give me an update.  They believed they had tracked down what was now a series of random punching- all with no motive or theft involved.  "A college fraternity initiation," stated the kind gentleman on the phone.  I found myself relieved. I found myself with a renewed sense of safety.  And I found myself ashamed for slowly buying into some of the assumptions of those around me.  Why did it make a difference whether this person was a wealthy attender of a nearby expensive institution or a homeless man?  Either way, he is a man.  I began to think about which scenario says more about our society.  If it was a homeless man, at least I could have blamed myself for perpetuating a monetary and economic system that forces a rapidly growing list of those who cannot make ends meet.  Who was I to blame now?  What injustices existed to create this problem?  Were the roles reversed?  Did I appear to be the poorly dressed city "kid" that someone (probably not even from the state) thought was expendable to meet his own desires?
What a beautiful lesson in solidarity and what a tiny window into the world in which our neighbors have lived for generations.

Morning surprise

It was a dark, rainy, Thursday morning.  I had just crossed the street to change buses and I was thinking how pretty the rain looked on this particular morning as it hit the pavement on Main Street. Suddenly, pain and confusion overcame me and my hands immediately went up to cover my face where something had unexpectedly just come into extreme contact with it.  Dazed, I slowly pieced together what had just happened. The bus previous to mine pulled up and the driver immediately got out to be sure I was OK.  She had witnessed a man sneaking up behind me, punching me in the eye, and then running away.  I recall being happy at her recounting of the story as I thought I must have imagined it.  Her act of kindness and compassion immediately squashed my feelings of isolation and vulnerability.
I slowly developed an enormous and somewhat hideous black eye.  The worst part of it all to me was the process of being forced to repeat the story what seemed like an infinite amount of times.  Why would I want to perpetuate what is already a negative attitude towards my city?  Many people glared at me with an, "I told you so" look on their faces as I did my best to tell the story of the kind bus driver vs. the story of the gentleman who assaulted me.  I wished I had gotten a better look at him, I wished I was able to understand what his motives were, and I wished he had taken the time to explain himself or even look at me.  Many assumptions were made.  "Just another crazy guy."  "He must be in a gang."  "You must have looked like his dealer." -And the list goes on and on.  None would prove to be true.
To be continued. . .

Spirituality and politics

A friend of ours put it this way, "We need to bring, I think, a certain spirituality, or higher dimension, to our understanding of political and economic life in order to sort out the holy from the unholy in our common life. For indeed, we are an "occupied" people."

I couldn't agree with him more. How are we to ignore the politics that dictate our lives and the lives of our neighbors?  Did Jesus not address political and economic life?

I ponder the idea that our systems and our lives are occupied by both holy and unholy -well- stuff. What would it look like in today's world to set ourselves (and our systems) free from the chains of demons such as greed?

This is a curious thing to ponder as I gaze through the falling snow at the rushing traffic.  Beyond the traffic lies a man who appears to be living under the bridge.  What are his thoughts?

It's you I like

I've been really pondering the idea that I am far more important than I imagine. I leave a piece of me wherever I go and with all those I come into contact with.  It kind of sounds like a self help book, I know, but there really is a lot to this.  It is truly fascinating and something I try to remember more frequently.  The small and simplest of things that I do could have long and far reaching impacts that I may never know.  If I step outside intentionally to simply smile or say hello to a neighbor, there is no telling what impacts that may have. If consistently acting lovingly towards my spouse is the tiniest of pebbles being tossed into the ocean, there is no telling how far the ripples may reach.
Of course, I will convince myself that it does not matter and that it is insignificant.  It is this argument of my own mind that often keeps relationships at a distance and community from happening.  My importance then, based on this, can be directly related to how much love I am willing to give.  How much peace and love am I really willing to dispense?  I strive to intentionally (there's that word again!) place myself into situations where this not only becomes second nature, but a necessity.  Allowing this "deep part" of us to come out is exponentially contagious.  I long for the evils to never have the power to stifle what Fred calls the part of all of us that is needed for human survival.

“When I say it's you I like, I'm talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.”
― Fred Rogers

Living in the present

I couldn't help but notice everyone around me.  I was the only one without a cell phone. As I closely observed those around me, I quickly became aware that no one noticed.  I could stare at each and every person for awkwardly long periods of time and no one noticed.  Sometimes, I could even enter and exit and it seemed. for those around me, that it was as if it never happened.  Who was everyone talking to?  What was so important at 7:00am on a Monday morning?
As I went about my day I quickly noticed that people walking, people waiting, and even people eating where all conspicuously speaking with someone via text.  I immediately thought to myself how old I must truly be that this would be a bother to me.  Upon further reflection, I realized that I was not simply a begrudged old man refusing to embrace new technologies.  I was upset about the lack of awareness.  There are people around us that want to talk!  There are people around us that long for relationship and community!
Then it hit me.  This was our answer.  The constant connectivity of cell phones was offering the users what they desired.  Connections. The immediate and much more "real" connections were being lost and ignored in the mean time.  It seemed that everyone someone went, they were constantly setting up or talking about the next thing.  On the bus in the morning: texting plans for lunch time.  At lunch: texting plans for after work.  After work: texting plans for the evening: In the evening: texting plans for the next morning.  And on and on the circle went.
When does it stop?  When do people simplly enjoy their surroundings and truly get to know one another?  How do those physically in the same space grow closer?
Many words always come to mind when my mind spins in this direction. The words of Jesus in Matthew 6:34 (look it up) are a few of them.
It is my hope that we stop our habit of getting ready to live and just live!

Unsung heroes

Chrissy is a woman in her late forties who works full time as a bus monitor.  She is one of the few people in her family to ever have a job, let alone have one for 15 straight years.  As she enters the bus, a smile slowly forms. Chrissy takes her seat among her new found friends and begins to unwind. The window that she provides into a world that most people outside of urban settings are unfamiliar with- is truly enlightening.  Her children's father is MIA.  Her two sisters, mother, and her brother's ex-wife (as well as her children) rely on her income.  After doing the math, it seems she supports eight people off of her job that pays barely over minimum wage after 15 years.
There is much to be learned from Chrissy.  She certainly has been on the bottom end of a broken system and suffers from multiple forms of oppression.  Chrissy, however,  offers a genuine smile to those around her every single day.  Her attitude, patience, and ability to live in the present enable her to be a shining light in many of our lives.  Making ends meet every week is a nightmare.  There is a genuine lack of opportunity and a severe lack of options.
It is hard for me and my fellow employees to imagine a life without her stories and without her humor. Intentionally placing ourselves into situations to meet people like Chrissy certainly enables us to experience a "richer" life.  The richest moments in life, it seems, come from relationships. Yet another reminder of what really matters.
What can we learn from this?  How can we harness our creativity and our communities to offer another way?  How do we address systemic oppression?  All of these questions roll through my brain as I offer a sincere smile back to my co-workers and our new friend, Chrissy.

A brief reflection on control

People want to control everything they can. Time. Travel. Food. Clothing. Religion. Politics. Employment. Sports. Money. Relationships. Other people. Phew- that is a lot of pressure! What I have found, especially recently, is the great pleasures and spiritual benefits of losing this control. What I am proposing is intentionally placing ourselves in situations that force us to experience this lack of control. This lack of control often provides a greater opportunity for spontaneity and relationships.
Today's example: riding the city the bus. The bus, though often far slower than driving, provides a means to not only meet people and build community, but puts me in a place where I cannot even pretend to control the outcome. I might be late. I might miss the next bus. I cannot make it go any faster. I cannot choose how many times I stop along the way. Sometimes, I cannot even pick where I sit. Life quickly becomes more of an adventure and it becomes easier to see the beauty of the world and of the people around me. An added benefit: less stress. It seems clear to me that the many things we believe we need to control create a great deal of pressure on us. Intentionally putting myself in situations that curb this seemingly instinctual habit has literally lowered my worry levels. What am I to do about something that I have no control over? My choices become simple: enjoy the journey and continue to learn, or be miserable and depressed. I believe we are called to the prior.
Matthew 6:27-29
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
Proverbs 12:25
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:31-33
So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Is it possible that we really find peace in situations that seem backwards and counter cultural? Is it possible that our empire and socioeconomic system has bred us to live in ways that are harmful to our souls? To all these questions, a clear and simple, "yes" resounds from my innermost being.

Preconceived Notions

The scene: A dark alleyway near a run down drug store in what many consider to be "the hood." Large amounts of traffic pass by as drivers work their way towards the interstate and back to the suburbs. A driver glances through the window of his car at a stop light and sees a man standing in the alleyway next to a fancy car with expensive rims. The unidentified man is handing cash through the tinted car window and, apparently, receiving something in return. The traffic light turns green and the driver on his way home from work wonders why he has to travel through such an area as this. He shakes his head in disgust, answers his now ringing cell phone, and begins his evening routine without giving the scenario another thought.
The reality: The unidentified man is a man in his thirties with a pregnant wife at home. This man, a Christian, is in this exact spot every month. As a believer in solidarity with the poor, the benefits of relocating to a community in need, and living simply, the man takes the bus to and from work every day. The man lives just around the corner from the run down drug store. The dealer, whose girlfriend happens to receive a discounted buss pass from her job, is supplying this man with a bus pass that neither the dealer nor the girlfriend would ever use. Next month, the man is making a dinner date out of the whole exchange and having the dealer over to his house in "the hood" for an opportunity to relax and converse.
It always comes as a pleasant surprise to learn about others that are seeking justice, peace, and positive change in the city. What this driver on his way home from work assumed in this scenario was completely false. It makes me wonder how many assumptions and preconceived notions I may have when observing others in and around our neighborhood. I hope and pray that my thoughts will not turn into judgments and that my attitude will never hide the true beauty that may lie beneath the surface of any situation.

A friendly reminder to live

As I pulled out of our weekly Mennonite men's breakfast, I landed immediately behind a school bus. After the third stop, I began to think about how late I might be to work.  As the bus continued to lead the way down my normal route, I caught myself becoming slightly frustrated. Where was this frustration coming from?  If I had taken the time to reflect, I may have remembered that Wednesdays are one of the few days I even have the privilege of driving a car and normally, as a bus rider, these types of scenarios are completely out of my control. Then it happened.  My reminder to live.  As the school bus slowly approached what seemed like the hundredth child on their way to school, it quickly became apparent that this child was excited.  Upon closer look, this girl of six or seven years old was seriously breaking it down.  It was a cold, grey morning in upstate New York and there was a slight snowy drizzle looming overhead.   The girl danced away.  As I stopped and watched in amazement from behind the bus, the excited girl slowly danced her way onto the bus all the while waving her arms back and forth and smiling from ear to ear.  It was in that moment that God reminded me to live every moment with a reckless abandon.  Dance.  Music or not, just dance and celebrate life in every moment.  Celebrate for what it is- life.  The music of life and love that is normally in my head returned thanks to that little girl.  How had I so quickly forgotten?  I marvel at the situations and people that help bring and grow God's kingdom here on Earth. I will not soon forget the many blessings that happen in our neighborhood that effect me in a positive way- in turn effecting those that I come into contact with- especially on this particular Wednesday morn.
Philippians 4:6 says this, "Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks."
How often we forget those last three words.