I have a dear friend who is about to go to Rwanda for a few weeks to work with refugees and she sent me this quote. It was so good I had to share.
"Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, suffering and injustice when He could do something about it.
Well, why don't you ask him?
Because I am afraid he would ask me the same question."
-Anonymous
So, what are you doing to help those around you today?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Questions
I gave a speech over Labor Day weekend, and it focused on 4 questions I have been thinking about. Here are the four questions and a bit of my notes. Any thoughts? Leave me a comment.
1. Why do we continue to live in our world rather than moving into the world of other people?
2. Why do we fear when we should lead?
There is a perceived danger in loving each other. Actually, there is a real danger in loving each other. We start loving other people and our lives become messy.
3. Why do we react when we should choose?
I am a part of a generation of privileged, angst-filled former church-goers, and we are searching for something real that actually resonates with the deep desire of our souls to be connected. At our worst, we travel on our parents dime to remote areas of the globe searching for some sort of purpose while trying to work out our issues through “serving” the poor, returning adorned with strange jewelry, judging every friend and family member for their lifestyles but not changing anything about ourselves. Good leaders seem to not simply react to the situations around them, they choose how they are going to be and then they are consistent in being that way. Not tossed by the wind. So at our best, my generation embraces the tension of living in a global society, and then we dig our heels into figuring out who God created us to be and confidently living into that the fullest that we can, using all the energy and passion of the world.
"If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for the Creator, there is no poverty and no indifferent place."
Rainier Maria Rilke
4. Why do we repeat when we should change?
What inter-generational relationships have taught me:
Given me perspective
Taught me not to fear
Shown me the line between prosperity and entitlement
Leaders should be changing conversations
How do I change the conversation to move into the world of others?
How do I change the conversation so I am leading instead of fearing?
How do I change the conversation to choosing instead of reacting?
1. Why do we continue to live in our world rather than moving into the world of other people?
2. Why do we fear when we should lead?
There is a perceived danger in loving each other. Actually, there is a real danger in loving each other. We start loving other people and our lives become messy.
3. Why do we react when we should choose?
I am a part of a generation of privileged, angst-filled former church-goers, and we are searching for something real that actually resonates with the deep desire of our souls to be connected. At our worst, we travel on our parents dime to remote areas of the globe searching for some sort of purpose while trying to work out our issues through “serving” the poor, returning adorned with strange jewelry, judging every friend and family member for their lifestyles but not changing anything about ourselves. Good leaders seem to not simply react to the situations around them, they choose how they are going to be and then they are consistent in being that way. Not tossed by the wind. So at our best, my generation embraces the tension of living in a global society, and then we dig our heels into figuring out who God created us to be and confidently living into that the fullest that we can, using all the energy and passion of the world.
"If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for the Creator, there is no poverty and no indifferent place."
Rainier Maria Rilke
4. Why do we repeat when we should change?
What inter-generational relationships have taught me:
Given me perspective
Taught me not to fear
Shown me the line between prosperity and entitlement
Leaders should be changing conversations
How do I change the conversation to move into the world of others?
How do I change the conversation so I am leading instead of fearing?
How do I change the conversation to choosing instead of reacting?
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