I'm reading this book that's wrecking me.
Because here I am in my comfortable life, no problems even worthy of mentioning. And what am I even doing...
And she's living for Him in a way that our world would say is crazy. Loving the dirty. Serving the suffering. Showing the face of Jesus. Faithfully and recklessly saying yes. Radical.
What would my life look like if I were even half as willing?....
And I want that radical love, that risking it all. Giving my life away. But I don't know. Where to start. What to do. How?
How do we give our
lives away? Isn't that what it means to be centered on Christ, the God who
so loved, He gave?
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (Luke 16:33)
And sometimes I wonder if it's even possible to live radically for Christ in this culture of affluence. In America. As I type this on my laptop, a cup of coffee within reach. In a warm house. Knowing that I've got all I need. And so much more. So much stinking stuff.
And there's children out there dying. From hunger related causes. Every 8 - 12 seconds.
The tears are rolling down my cheeks as I type this and I'm ready to sell it all and catch the next plane to Africa.
But reality hits and I know that I can't. Not now. Not yet. Maybe never.
That's not where God has me. But am I living and loving for Him in the place that He does? Do I say yes? Not enough....
What about the opportunities right in front of my face. The next door neighbors that are obviously lost and hurting. Their little girl that hangs out in our yard asking questions non-stop, picking things she's not supposed to. Just hungry for attention and love. The hyper kid in children's church that everyone gets annoyed at. That one customer that everyone pretends not to see, cause he's never there to buy anything. That girl I know that's pregnant, and she acts angry, doesn't want help...but she's really just scared and so alone. The boy that has scars on his arms...self inflicted, yes. And that's just scratching the surface of the endless hearts in need and broken...here in my community.
And then when I think of the opportunities that I have to touch the hurting around the world without leaving my home. It floors me. And yet what do I do?!...not enough. Can it ever be to much. I mean, really? Can we ever live and love too radically??
For less than $1.25 a day. One dollar and twenty-five cents a day. (And I spend that on snack...) We could change a child's life, forever. Radically.
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| My darling kiddos. |
If only 8 percent of Christians would care for just one more child, there wouldn’t be any orphans or needy children left." 'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’...." (Matthew 25:35-40)
“God did not make too many people and not enough resources to go around.” (pg 49)
God is with the poor...and shouldn't God centered Christianity know no other orbit than the broken, the hurting, the poor, the aching? Next door, around the corner, down the street, in this city, across continents, over the ocean?
What does my life revolve around?
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9)
I expected this story to be touching. I expected it to be eye-opening and moving. I expected it to be inspiring.
But it was more than that. It's not like I was ignorant of third-world disease, poverty, starvation and neglect.
Maybe it's that Katie is currently 23...only 5 years older than me. And she's adopted fourteen children...loving, living, the radical.
It's an amazing example of what becomes possible when we. Just. Say. Yes.
And that's really what Katie's message is,
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?You just have to faithfully say yes to what God asks.
(Micah 6:8)
Amazing things will happen.
“I have learned that something happens when one makes herself available to God: He starts moving in ways no one could imagine…” (pg 57)
So I say yes.....
The ministry that Katie started in Uganda is called Amazima, meaning
“truth.” You can find out more about the book and her ministry here.
