Thought you might enjoy remembering this day with me.
Archive for March, 2008
We have visited about “why help fragmented people?” and “who are fragmented people?” and we need to look at “how do I help a fragmented person?” This really is a huge question. But, it isn’t as big as we often make it. Helping a fragmented person is really a simple issue when you have made up your mind that you are going to help. The old adage…the hardest part about getting a train moving is getting a train moving…is true of us as well. Getting us to make the decision to help others is the hardest part. Once we are committed the only question left to answer is, “How?”For all of us the only thing we have to offer is, us. Whether it be our thoughts, our experiences, our relationships, our resources…it all boils down to, we can offer ourselves. When it comes to offering comfort, we can comfort with the comfort we have received. (2 Cor 1.3-4) When it comes to sharing our resources we can share what we have. (Mt 5.42 , Prov 22.9 ) And we could go on…with the knowledge we have, etc. The point is…use what you have to help the fragmented people you see. You can always wrestle with other questions after you get the train moving…such as…”Am I doing enough?”, “Who can I partner with?”, ”Am I doing the right thing?”, etc. Save them for after you start helping fragmented people. I love how simple some people make this. Marlene collects pill bottles to send oversees to developing countries. Paulene sends out cards, alot of cards. Wayne invents (meaningful but creative) little jobs that some friends of his can help with. Chuck and Mandie are going through the process to become house parents for troubled teen boys. I am reading a book by Baxter Black about cowboys. In it he uses a uses a phrase to describe people who dress up like cowboys but aren’t…”they are all hat and no spurs”. May God protect us from being “all hat and no spurs”.
If we have been invited to help fragmented people, and we have, then we ought to know who that is or what that is. Fragmented is a way of describing the state of my life. “Not whole”, or “not complete” would be another way of saying, fragmented. You might be jumping ahead to the realization that all of us are fragmented. You are right. We are all in the same boat.The cool thing is I have experienced healing in areas where I used to be fragmented. For instance, my view of what part drugs should play in my life was fragmented. My view of how to treat women used to be fragmented. My understanding of who God is and what he has done for me was fragmented, the list could go on. When I speak in the past tense I am not trying to imply that I have arrived, I haven’t. But I am more whole today than I was.Of course when I say fragmented I am revealing my hope that a life of ONEness or wholeness is possible. Possible for everyone not just a select few. I realize it is a matter of us choosing to leave a fragmented life for a life that is whole. And, not everyone will make that choice. Before I can leave a fragmented lifestyle I need to know that there is hope. The reason I am more whole than I was is because others love and loved me. Because God loved and loves me.I don’t think we would argue that this world is full of fragmented people. “Who will love on them?”, is the question for us to wrestle with. “Fragmented” is not just another label, but a reality. Before we use our resources, energies, abilities we have to see a need. May God help us to see people. Beautiful, valuable people who are fragmented. May we enter into the adventure of helping. The way of Jesus. Next time we will visit about how we can help…stay tuned.
Since we started LWCH three short years ago it has been our desire to help fragmented people. This desire gives birth to all sorts of questions like, “How do you help fragmented people? What is needed to help them? What part does God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, etc., play in helping fragmented people? What part do we/I play? Is it OK to use the term fragmented people? And the questions could go on. Let me start by asking, “Why?”Why help fragmented people? It can be overwhelming, exhausting, frustrating, and worthwhile, rewarding and consistent with the life of Jesus. I believe the story of the Bible. People sin and God redeems. Jesus demonstrated the incredible worth of people in his life and death. He gave his life to helping fragmented people. That phrase, “He gave his life.” slips off the tongue fairly easily. But, lately it has been hitting me with some force.As I look in the mirror I see a man who is still fragmented. But, not as fragmented as he used to be. I also see a man who can give. Nancy Beach included some thoughts about a service she led for Good Friday at Willow Creek,
“The focal point of the service leading up to the meal of remembrance was a time to think through what our lives would be like if it weren’t for Jesus.” more
I remember, and have an idea of what my life would be like if it weren’t for Jesus. The picture isn’t pretty. Thankfulness wells up when I remember. I am not standing alone today. I stand with others who helped this fragmented person, because they too had been helped.As a community of faith we “get to” help fragmented people. We don’t “have to”. May we continue to help freely, because we have received freely. Because we can. Next time we will talk about “how we can help fragmented people.”
