This is MY tribe...
June 14, 2007
As I have said in a few blogs, this week has been interesting with the refocus and redefinition of my life, some relationships and how I have spent my time. This is what I have learned though:
There is no question in my mind that I do not fit into the mold that the world or the religious have to offer with how to live, how to define friendships, relationships, or approach to the hurt and needy in the world. I REFUSE to let my life be defined by the models that tell me that I need to look a certain way, talk a certain way or treat people a certain way. I see people around me back at home treating people with calloused indifference to their pain, to their circumstances. I see people treat others like they are only to be used for their own pleasure or those things that will benefit them. I see people spit in the faces of the downtrodden, pour vinegar into the wounds in people's hearts. I see relationships defined only by sex, and sacred vows of marriage tossed around and disregarded if there is a chance to get laid by some hot someone-or-other. And I see people who refuse to live as if they have responsibility for their actions or the fact that those actions have far reaching effects into other's lives, even if they have no idea who those other people might be.
As I have been surrounded this week by some close friends who follow Jesus with their hearts and lives lived in service and humility and Love for others around them, whether they know them or not, I realized something profound - AGAIN. (Hey, I'm a little slow and need to be reminded from time to time!)
I realize that my heart cannot fit well into that mold that is offered by those things that seem to try to lure me, and sometimes do. I realize that I am CREATED a very specific way. I am compassionate. I am tenderhearted. I am made to care deeply for people in their moments of pain, crisis and apparent hopelessness. I realize that my tribe - my people - are not like others. We are brothers and sisters of vastly different backgrounds. I've felt a stronger connection and kinship with people I've just met because of our shared path of following Jesus than those that I have known and associated with daily for months, even if I've just met them. I find that kinship with people from all ethnic backgrounds, all languages. I find that with older conservative folks that remind me of my parents, I find that with my punk rocker friends all covered in tats and piercings. I find that with the mothers and fathers of young children. I find it with people who are old enough to be my grandparents.
I find this kinship and connection with them solely because we walk a similar, chosen and deliberate path of long obedience in the same direction (a la Eugene Peterson) of following Jesus. It is the life of service to this end that fills my heart more than anything. It is the community that I surround myself with that leads me to chose things that others view as crazy and worthless and cowardly and as being unmotivated because I am just wasting my time. I choose this tribe. I choose Jesus. I thank you for walking this path with me, this journey, for being my companions and for being my tribe.
This tribe… is my home.
There is no question in my mind that I do not fit into the mold that the world or the religious have to offer with how to live, how to define friendships, relationships, or approach to the hurt and needy in the world. I REFUSE to let my life be defined by the models that tell me that I need to look a certain way, talk a certain way or treat people a certain way. I see people around me back at home treating people with calloused indifference to their pain, to their circumstances. I see people treat others like they are only to be used for their own pleasure or those things that will benefit them. I see people spit in the faces of the downtrodden, pour vinegar into the wounds in people's hearts. I see relationships defined only by sex, and sacred vows of marriage tossed around and disregarded if there is a chance to get laid by some hot someone-or-other. And I see people who refuse to live as if they have responsibility for their actions or the fact that those actions have far reaching effects into other's lives, even if they have no idea who those other people might be.
As I have been surrounded this week by some close friends who follow Jesus with their hearts and lives lived in service and humility and Love for others around them, whether they know them or not, I realized something profound - AGAIN. (Hey, I'm a little slow and need to be reminded from time to time!)
I realize that my heart cannot fit well into that mold that is offered by those things that seem to try to lure me, and sometimes do. I realize that I am CREATED a very specific way. I am compassionate. I am tenderhearted. I am made to care deeply for people in their moments of pain, crisis and apparent hopelessness. I realize that my tribe - my people - are not like others. We are brothers and sisters of vastly different backgrounds. I've felt a stronger connection and kinship with people I've just met because of our shared path of following Jesus than those that I have known and associated with daily for months, even if I've just met them. I find that kinship with people from all ethnic backgrounds, all languages. I find that with older conservative folks that remind me of my parents, I find that with my punk rocker friends all covered in tats and piercings. I find that with the mothers and fathers of young children. I find it with people who are old enough to be my grandparents.
I find this kinship and connection with them solely because we walk a similar, chosen and deliberate path of long obedience in the same direction (a la Eugene Peterson) of following Jesus. It is the life of service to this end that fills my heart more than anything. It is the community that I surround myself with that leads me to chose things that others view as crazy and worthless and cowardly and as being unmotivated because I am just wasting my time. I choose this tribe. I choose Jesus. I thank you for walking this path with me, this journey, for being my companions and for being my tribe.
This tribe… is my home.
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