Back in 2006, after attending my last CHIC Conference (Covenant High in Christ), I shared with the local congregation my heart’s desire to really get my feet dirty to change society and people’s lives for the better.
Since then, I’ll admit, I have shied away from getting dirty and instead have sought desperately to fit in where I think society wants me. To serve a little at church, help my family as I should, work towards a career, and find that special someone who could make my whole world complete! (Or, so they say…) However, all that seemed so unfulfilling and isn’t really what God desires of me… It’s not about living a neat and clean, perfect little life with everything in it’s appropriate box… But, rather, stepping outside of the box, outside of the neatness of your live and into the mess, the slum…
So this year, I’m quite literally getting my feet and hands dirty! Doing God’s work means involving yourself in the mess of the world, in other people’s disasters, crises, or sufferings. I feel quite privileged to do this in such a tangible way this year!
Life is messy… I’ve always liked things to be neat, clean and organized. But I can also see that over the years, my life has become more messy… Relationships aren’t what they used to be, hopes and dreams aren’t what they once were, and bitterness, doubt and hopelessness crept in… Life gets messy…
Recently, God reminded me that if you really love someone, you will not only involve yourself in their troubles, but also speak the truth in love even when you’d rather not. I’ve always hated conflict (with a passion!), but conflict is a necessary evil and, actually, even a good thing because it helps us grow and change! Even more, it is edifying to the church body as a whole – we become more like Christ!
To really love someone is to share with them things they cannot see about themselves; the hard things even they might not want to hear. Like a mirror, you will show them that their face is dirty or they have a cancer that needs to be removed. This is love. How can you get clean if you don’t know you’re dirty? How can you get well if you don’t know you’re sick? To say someone is fine when they are not, is a lie and not loving. This is why Jesus came… to show us our need for a Savior! That we cannot save ourselves because we have no power over sin in our lives on our own! You cannot be saved from sin if you don’t think you have any!
I’m glad to have opportunity to have dirty feet and dirty hands this year in such a tangible way. But I also hope my heart and actions follow – that I can involve myself in the problems of my brothers and sisters in this world, of my teammates and squadmates, as God leads. That it wouldn’t just be physical dirt on my feet, but that my heart would have the compassion to speak the truth in love and join in the sufferings of God’s family! Please pray for this authenticity in my life because it is the tendency of my whole being to run FROM this! I can see some areas I need to do this, but I’ve been shying away from it. Pray for the courage to obey God and get DIRTY!
