14 we raised more than our goal of $150.00 and have money in The Compassion Movement fund to start seeking out our next project! God is good. Thanks to all of those who helped. (Visit "The Compassion Movement" Website-see Resources on right)
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."--John Lennon
God calls us to help those who need it. If there is one thing that is certain it is that God lives, in a special way, with the poor and broken this world. Jesus said that when we help people our actions are really serving him. "I tell you the truth: whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine [the sick, hungry, lonely and imprisoned] you did for me" (Mat. 25.40).
For a long time I have struggled with God, like Jacob. My struggle has revolved around what to do with the above command of Jesus. My heart is sensitive to the needs of the world and I believe the church is called to be missional in everything it does. But beyond this theoretical level what am I to do? What is God calling me to do? In my context?
Something happened recently that helped shape that heart a little further: a friend went to work with poor people in Nicaragua. She sent me an email with a need to be met. A man named Carmelo Silva has a daughter who needs a wheelchair (see picture above). She presently is sitting strapped to a plastic chair. They need is $150.00 to buy fully-working wheelchair. Could we, the church community, help?
While reading about this need a flood of inspiration came over me: this need is so small and tangible. The need could be met by the DSF community (our evening church service). Meeting this very small need would then create momentum. The sick helped in the name of Jesus for the glory of God. This is more than just a "one-off" though. There are hundreds of these needs, thousands, millions!
What causes people to stall when trying to help the world is the enormity of the task. The scope of needs is so big it becomes too much for the heart to contain, thus we become hard because we feel guilty, which ultimately leads to indifference and inaction. So, then: what if the scope of the project is smaller and more tangible? Then the work is do-able. One small need at a time. Indeed; this is more than just a "one-off". This is a movement. A movement of compassion.
Thus was born in my heart: The Compassion Movement: identifying and responding to global and local needs. Born out of a desire to follow the way of Jesus: helping the poor, sick, lonely, naked and imprisoned to both physical and spiritual restoration for the glory of God.
There is alot that needs to happen from this stage. Right now it is an idea. But, I believe a good one, and one infused with God. The parable I am taking as a guide is that of the mustard seed. "Jesus said, 'What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.'" (Mark 4.30-32)
1. The movement is, of course, starting small, like the kingdom of God (right now it exists only in my mind and on the page of this blog) but it will catch on. It will grow. I believe it exists in the hearts of many around me, some of whom know it and some who don't know it yet, but they will.
2. The small size of the seed is crucial in another way: The small seed has become the foundational metaphor for the entire vision. I know this sounds backwards but I think the following is the whole point: we will resist the temptation to "think big". We will force ourselves to think small-- tangible goals that can be met with the resources at our immediate disposal.
In his book "Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community" Wendell Berry says that to address global problems one must first work with local ones. And though for sure not all global issues are represented in all local societies, local communities are a microcosm of the macroscosm that is the global community. The idea here is that smaller changes taken together create larger changes by default.
My friend Jeremy always speaks about the power of grassroots movements. He holds the power of the community in very high regard, saying that many great changes in society have come from these non-official revolutions such as Civil Rights. Small voices slowly becoming more prominent. when small victories are won and more voices join the choir. Small changes creating great waves. That is all it takes and that is all The Compassion Movement will try to do.
Small changes. Precise. Tangible. Mustard seed. A girl in a wheelchair. Such is why we exist.
2 comments:
Jesus never told the government or an organization to take care of the poor and needy, he did so in person and commanded his disciples to do so likewise. It is the personal connection that touches our heart and the personal connection that touches the heart of the one in need. An impersonal organization simply cannot convey the love and compassion and meet needs that a follower of Jesus can. An organization should limit itself to trying to facilitate and encourage individuals to show compassion to others.
I love that this has been posted. Mark you know my convictions about DSF's involvment with the Share Ministry. This all stems from the example that is Jesus' life. This is about action, lifestyle, faithfulness, service, justice, and worship. I agree with you that the enorimity of the idea of compassion is such that it often overwhelms and causes hesitancy or non-action. Wendell Berry (whom I love), in his article, Christianity and the Survival of Creation, also says "[Christians] have to give workable answers" to the problems of society. Consequently I think your idea of "tangible goals that can be met with the resources at our immediate disposal" fits here.
I find it interesting that this is an issue that we don't feel has been adequately addressed within the church. I think it speaks to issues of poor understanding/definitions, apathy, indifference,etc. And I think these are indicative of the society in which we live. So in my mind any sort of encouragement towards/emphasis on movement is good as it combats the stagnation; it makes people think and evaluate, and hopefully thus begins the process of the renewal of both heart and mind.
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