Our building has had a major sewage problem recently.
Raw sewage has spilled out through any possible vent or pipe on
the ground floor and it's been disgusting. The problem has basically
forced us to halt the day to day running of our program. I've been
wondering what the point of it is. Why did God make it so that we
have to pass poison out of our systems on a daily basis in order
for us to survive? Why is sewage such a big industry that requires
billions of dollars to maintain?
I've come to some small conclusions:
- Human waste helps remind us that when you strip
us down, no matter if we're rich or poor, black or white, young or
old, male or female, we're all created in the same way.
- It reminds us that when we get all caught up
in what we perceive to be important things, if there's a problem with
the way we get rid of waste, everything else seems unimportant and
is put on hold.
- 3. It reminds us that the most disgusting parts
of us can bring new life. We use manure to spread over farmers fields,
and out of it comes the most beautiful crops of fruit and vegetables
imaginable.
It's this third point I want to focus on. We,
in our most basic humanity, can bring healing and new life into
the world by exposing our brokenness. Not only for the people around
us, but for ourselves as well. Jesus says in John 8: 31,32 this:
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Well, the
truth is we're all full of crap! If the truth sets us free, then
we must admit that we are broken, sick, sinful, crappy people. Only
then will we be free and be able to accept the gifts that Christ
came to offer: community, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and grace.
That's why the people who pretend that they have everything together
and have lots of money and material possessions are the ones in
the most bondage. They haven't admitted the truth of their brokenness.
You've heard me stressing the need to be vulnerable
on many occasions. As of yet though, I've not spelled out what that
really means. It's here that I'll steal ideas from Jean Vanier.
He's a 72-year-old man who's spent his whole life trying to understand
the healing process. He developed the L'Arche community, which is
a home for developmentally disabled people. Through his experiences
there, he has developed a philosophy of hope. I've recently had
the privilege of hearing him speak 4 times in two days, and also
had opportunity to meet him. (I told some of you that you'd be hearing
more about him so here goes)
He's written a book called Becoming Human.
In it he outlines seven aspects of love that are necessary for the
transformation of the heart. I feel these elements are crucial to
the way we do things here at The Gateway. He suggests that we need:
-
To reveal. "The first aspect of love, the
key aspect, is revelation. To reveal someone's beauty is to reveal
their value by giving them time, attention and tenderness. To
love is not just to do something for them but also to reveal to
them their own uniqueness, to tell them that they are special
and worthy of attention. We can express this revelation through
our open and gentle presence, in the way we look at and listen
to a person, the way we speak to and care for a person. Gestures
can be filled with a respect that reveals to someone their worth,
even if that worth is hidden under anger, hatred, or madness."
(Pg.22)
- To understand. People need to be understood.
If we don't try and understand where people are coming from, how can
we help people find inner peace and growth? When people are abusive,
lazy, violent, etc., it is not only a sign of inner brokenness, darkness
and anguish but also a cry for help.
- To communicate. "Just as we need to be understood,
we also need to understand ourselves and for that we need to be helped."
(pg.24) People who are disturbed need help in naming where that disturbance
is coming from. "When nothing is named, confusion grows and with it
comes anguish. To name something is to bring it out of chaos, out
of confusion, and to render it understandable. When realities are
not named, they haunt us." (pg.25) He then goes on to say that, "…the
one who is healed and the one who is healing constantly change places."
(pg.25) (This is where Trent comes in, as he will try and help people
name the issues in their lives)
- To celebrate. "To love people is also to celebrate
them…So often the people we work with are viewed only as problems
needing to be attended to by professionals…people also need laughter
and play, they need people who will celebrate life with them and manifest
their joy of being with them…Only when all of our weaknesses are accepted
as part of our humanity can our negative, broken self-images be transformed."
(Pg.26)
- To empower. "It is not just a question of doing
things for others but of helping them, do things for themselves, helping
them discover the meaning of their lives. To love means to empower.
We all need to learn gradually that we're responsible for our own
body, our own life, and we have authority over our own actions, and
we can make our own choices, however small. But with this sense of
responsibility comes the necessity of learning to respect others."
(Pg.27)
- To be in communion. "Communion is mutual trust,
mutual belonging; it is the to-and fro movement of love between two
people where each one gives and each one receives…communion is mutual
vulnerability and openness to one another…Trust is a beautiful form
of love. When we are generous we give money, time, knowledge. In trust,
we give ourselves. But we can only give of ourselves if we trust that
we will be well received by someone…Communion makes us vulnerable."
(Pgs.28, 29)
- To forgive. "The bonding between people in communion
implies that we forgive and that we ask each other for forgiveness."
(pg.30) He goes on to say that because we are human we will continue
to hurt each other, and the closer we become the more we open ourselves
up to being more deeply hurt. We must be able to accept each other's
humanness and forgive when we let each other down, as well as expect
to be forgiven.
In our community here at The Gateway, I think
we've done a good job of implementing a lot of these ideas. We have
brought our brokenness into a community of broken people and witnessed
healing. We have seen people housed, employed, delivered from addictions,
etc. And we too, as workers, have experienced healing in our own
lives as a result.
So why does God make it so we have to pass poison
out of our system everyday? A big part of it is to remind us that
the truth will indeed set us free. That letting go of the vilest
parts of us and exposing it to the earth is the only way to become
fully human.
Keep on being The Hand of God in the Heart of
the City.
In Peace,
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