Working Relationships

Scott and I just finished watching several episodes of one of those medical shows. You know, they show EMTs responding to the emergency, the trauma team fighting to save a life, and the surgery --oh, yes, the surgery! All of that sanitized blood and gore. You either love those shows or you can't bear to watch. Well, they also do these interviews, show "the human side" of these medical heroes: home life, work relationships. And, if you work outside the home, you know. Our work relationships can be some of the most important relationships we have. For instance, one episode showed a group of doctors and nurses planning a baby shower for a coworker. I know what it's like to receive that kind of love and support from people who, really, have no stake in the game, have no reason to care one way or another about your feelings or your milestones or your child for that matter! But here they were, validating another as a whole person --their life and the life of their family in such a tangible, selfless way. AMAZING!!! Another episode showed a man donating his kidney to a coworker --his kidney! Would you donate a body part you're certainly using to the guy in Finance? Would you go under the knife, risk infection, endure what could turn out to be great pain and a long recovery for the person you have begged --for months!-- not to heat up fish in the microwave? But here was this guy, splayed open to give his coworker a perfectly good organ. WOW!

Have you ever thought about the ways we are called together to work together for the Kingdom of God? First of all, we're told to love the Lord with all we've got --heart, soul, mind, and body. Secondly, we're commanded to love others. In Mark's Gospel, there's a little phrase between the two: the second, like it, is this, meaning the second command is as comprehensive and demanding as the first. In John 13:34-35, Jesus tells His disciples to love one another as He has loved them! He taught them, corrected them in love, showed them how to serve God and serve others; and He was about to demonstrate the ultimate love for others at the cross. 

Now, these stories we were watching didn't mention whether any of these folks had a personal relationship with Jesus or not. Judging by their selfless actions and tender mercies, I would think that, maybe, some of them did. Would someone be able to say the same should they observe my interactions with others at the market? at work? in our neighborhood? in my church? Do I acknowledge the image of God in each one? Would I put myself out so another might have a better day or, even, a better life? And would I work side-by-side with others, toiling and sacrificing with the same zeal as if I was the only one? As a follower of Jesus Christ, HOW MUCH MORE should I not only serve others, but serve with others to make sure God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven? From the very beginnings of humanity, God designed us to live in community --with Him, with one another. Even man's sin and the curse that followed would not draw God from His desire to commune with us. He made a way of reconciliation through His Son, Jesus, and gave us the word of reconciliation that we might, on His behalf, work and play and converse with others, making the love and hope in ourselves so appealing to others, they would seek reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ as well. That is our calling, to walk humbly with God and to seek to fill Heaven with those around us. Relationship is the work we have been given.

  

Midweek: A Wedding Invitation (2011)

Scott and I are coming up on our seventeenth wedding anniversary! So, in celebration, I thought this post from December 2011 would be appropriate:

A Wedding Invitation

People don't always see others for what they are. When I first met my husband, he was full of bitterness and attitude -- MAJOR attitude. I pegged him for spoiled, demanding, miserable, and intolerant. I was right. But what I hadn't seen was a man who loves his children, who struggles to be a man in a society that frowns on authority and strength of character, and a man who'd been betrayed.

When Scott met me, he saw me as beautiful. Despite my worn out look, my mood swings and my attitude -- MAJOR attitude. He could look past those things and into my heart. He saw the mother who loved her children, who struggled to make ends meet, whose fatigue and short answers were merely a symptom of the day-to-day conflict in which she was engaged.

Scott rescued me. As God was changing my heart, Scott was changing my circumstances. He showed me what it meant for a father to love his children; I began to know God as my Father. Scott explained things from a man's point of view; I learned to love with God's heart although others are different. Scott taught me how a good husband loves his bride; I began to see the love of Christ for His bride, the church -- the body of believers. 

Jeremiah 3:14 -- "I am married unto you."

The church of Christ is His bride. But unlike the mortal union that is marriage, death is no wedge between Jesus and His bride. In heaven, Jesus and His bride will celebrate their blessed bond. A bond in which the bride and groom have been conformed to one heart.
I see Scott very differently now. I see him as the one who was not ignorant to my imperfections but chose to see me with loving eyes. I see him as a hero to his children and me, and a servant to God. I see him as the one whose love brought the pages of God's Word to life for me -- a living example of the Husband, Christ. 

Imagine, if you will, the groom who waits expectantly at the front of the church for his bride, clothed in spotless white to join him. To him, she is the most beautiful one on whom he has ever rested his eyes. To him, she is purity and light. He has worked just to meet her and will continue to work to keep her. He has pulled her up to know just how precious she is to him. He will cherish her. He will share her sorrows and joys. He will protect her. He will never leave her. He provides for her. He shares whatever wealth he has with her. He will give her a new name -- his own. Nothing but death will separate him from her. 

You Can't Be Light Without Standing in the Darkness

What do you think it means to be a light? To be kind when someone is rude? To tip graciously? To thank your difficult boss for a lousy and thoroughly unwarranted performance review? It's not easy to be a light. In fact, to be a light --to really shine, you must be standing in darkness. Think about that. We light candles when the power goes out, right? When there is no other light to be had. I mean, we might light a fragrant candle during our quiet time or after we've made breakfast, but for a single candle to shed light, the place we're in has to be dark. The purpose of a lighthouse is to ensure ships will see the peril at hand and will turn from danger. To do so, however, the structure itself must stand in the blackness, amidst the rocks, and battered by storms.  

In Matthew 5, Jesus tells His disciples:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

This world is the place we are to be a light. In our churches, sure. Among our families, absolutely. But in the places where it is dark we should shine more brightly. In Jeremiah 29, God through His prophet tells the people of Judah, God's people, who had been carried away to Babylon:

Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Despite living in an unfamiliar land, away from homes they built, farms they worked, and family they loved, despite living under the rule of strangers known for their cruelty, amidst heathens and their worship, despite being without the temple in which the presence of God dwelled, they were to make a life for themselves there. Not because all hope was lost, not because God wanted His people to assimilate to heathen ways, but because they were tasked with the privilege of being light to a darkened world. By flourishing in the land, they would be increased. Rather than slowly disappearing into the culture of Babylon, Babylon would begin to look more like God's land. And wherever God is, peace abounds. Rather than plotting overthrow or rebelling against authorities, God's people were to pray for the hearts of their new neighbors, pray for the yield of the land and the peace of this country. They were to pray for the leadership, that they would make wise decisions, decisions that would benefit the people. Rather than stirring things up and focusing on all that was wrong with their situation, they were to be light. Light in a dark place. 

Now, I can get onboard with that if I don't fully consider the darkness in which God had allowed them to be placed. I can imagine moving into a new neighborhood where everyone sort of looked like me or were on a level playing field financially. I can picture myself inviting friendly housewives over for coffee and introducing thirsty seekers to the Bible. But think of your youngest child or grandchild going to school in one of the roughest schools in the nation; think of your spouse heading to work in one of the toughest prisons; envision living in a town that supports everything you don't and hates the God you worship; your housewarming invitations litter the ground, and they've set your garage on fire. With your pets inside. Sound far-fetched? I hope it is. But this is cruelty. This is hatred. This is rebellion. This is deception. This is darkness. And we are called to be light IN it. Not to it from the next room. Not over it by forcing our views on others. IN it. Living with and loving on those in the places God has sent us. Standing among the storms with them and pointing them toward salvation in the Light, Jesus Christ.