Sacred Mundane: The Blog

I stand at the stove, smashing the toasted cheese sandwich with the flat of a metal spatula. It sizzles as I push it down, cheese melting, oozing out into the pan. Jeff is talking in a low voice. I slice apples in silence. We’re both discouraged.

This church thing—it’s hard. This parenting thing—it’s hard. This finance thing, this marriage thing, this faith thing, this life thing—it’s hard.

We both shake our heads. Why did God entrust us with so many things when we’re so pathetically ill-prepared? Why did He think we could handle all this?

Heidi patters into the kitchen, smiling. She can smell the toasted cheese and is ready for lunch. She wears a ratty yellow Hello Kitty t-shirt pulled over the top of a red velvet Christmas dress. Her hair is a wild tangle. I can’t help but gather her up in my arms and kiss her smiling mouth just to inhale her ridiculous sweetness.

“Here, Heidi,” I say as I set her back down, “You carry your lunch plate to the table.” She raises her arms enthusiastically, eager to help. As I lower the plate into her hands, I already know what will happen.

And it does.

She turns quickly—as children do, with no concept of centrifugal force—and the sandwiches and apple slices slide right off and onto the floor.

Her shoulders slump.

Of course I kneel down, right beside her, and together we pick up the slices and sandwich together. And while we’re both down there I kiss her again, assure her it’s ok, and tell her to run along and enjoy her lunch.

No harm done.

Seconds later Dutch runs in, asks for his, and I lower his plate into his outstretched arms. Of course he’s older, and just a little wiser (barely), so he slowly turns and walks carefully to the table, lunch intact.

I turn to Jeff. He smiles back. We’re both thinking the same thing.

God’s so gracious. He entrusts us with the plate, even though He knows we will let the whole lunch slide out onto the floor. And then He’ll stoop down low, right beside us, and help us pick it up. He’ll kiss us in the process, assure us it’s ok, then send us off to keep learning, growing. And when we’re just a little wiser (barely), down the road, we’ll know how to navigate the turns just a little bit better.

At least a little less of our lunch will wind up on the floor.

~

 {May this perspective rule our minds this week. Thanks for reading.} 

• Running through leaves, freshly-fallen, crunching underfoot. Had to stop and kick some around–and smile–just because I could.
• Hot shower.
• Fire crackling.
• A broken washing machine. My steady man working hard to find… someone’s underpants clogged the tube! The project/frustration of the day turns into the laugh of the day.
• Relaxed, refreshing, renewing dinner with friends.
• Debra’s smile, grace, presence.
• The feeling of clean.
• Fly Lady.
• Trusting Him each step.
• Knowing there’ll be enough.
• Looking ahead to holidays!
• Pumpkin. Anything with pumpkin.
• Roasting veggies.
• The best broccoli of your life. 
• Joanna.
• New vision.
• Encouragement.
• That rough drafts aren’t a waste.
• The sketch of the day.
• Renewed strength.
• A long run in the cold, November sunshine.
• Family day.
• Popcorn.
• Candyland.
• Kimasia’s crazy-yummy cooking.
• Peace. 

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

(Gal. 5:25)

How many times have we been asked to do this exercise? List out your priorities as you want them to be … Of course we’re supposed to put God first, then family second, or wait, maybe we’re supposed to put ourselves first, but then what about our spouse, and then work is a must so where does that fit in? I’ll tell you what:

No matter how many times I’ve listed out my priorities it’s never revolutionized my life. 

Here’s what’s revolutionized my life:

Understanding that it’s not knowing my primary priority that matters but knowing my primary identity. 

We do what we do because we are who we are. 

I love how the NIV translates Galatians 5:25 (above). Essentially Paul is saying, “Because youlive by the Spirit, have been made alive by the Spirit, because your identity is a Spirit-birthed individual, live like one! Keep in step with the one who gives you life and you will have life.” 

Who are we? Are we primarily Americans? Republicans? Democrats? Wives? Teachers? SAHMs? We are children of the Most High God, chosen and redeemed, set free from sin and alive to God, called according to His purpose that we would walk in good works every single day of our lives, bringing Him glory, delighting in His goodness, displaying His power to a lost world hungering for hope.  We’re servants, we’re worshipers, we’re family, we’re learners, we’re missionaries. We are, first and foremost, disciples of Jesus Christ. 

What if I look at my to-do list with that in mind? Keeping in mind that everything that I do I do as a disciple of Jesus Christ, called to fulfill His great commission and be His ambassador here on earth?

No where in Scripture are we called to find balance. Our notion of “finding balance” is cultural. Christ calls us to take our whole life — work, play, service, both sacred and secular — and drench it in the water of His Spirit so that as we move about this world we’re soaking wet, dripping all over the world, spreading the gospel not because we’re handing out tracts but because we’re handing out hope. We’re kind, patient, loving, gentle … our life displays the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24).

What is our identity? Are we citizens of earth or citizens of heaven? Our identity determines how we live. We can walk in step with the world, running to keep up with the passing pleasures of each new year, or we can walk in step with the spirit, knowing that in His presence is fullness of joy.

{Wrestling through these thoughts from last year, again. Today, consider how your primary identity shapes all you will do this day. Thanks for thinking on this, and for reading.}

“Women are not the problem; they are the solution.”

 –Half the Sky

Around our Missional Mom circle this past week, human trafficking and the sex industry was the topic of the day. It seems it is the topic of every day these days.

And should be.  That $57 BILLION dollars are spent every single year on the sex industry should bring the issue front and center.

We obviously have plenty of time and money to spend on women and girls.

And yet, women continue to be the most neglected, mistreated, and overlooked sector of our society. “The equivalent of five jumbo jets’ worth of women die in labor each day, but the issue is almost never covered,” observes Nicholas Kristof in Half the Sky. He continues, ““More girls were killed in the last 50 years, precisely because they were girls, than men killed in all the wars in the 20th century. More girls are killed in this routine gendercide in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the 20th century.”

Gospel for Asia recently began a campaign to raise up, train, and support national female missionaries, to reach out to the most-unreached portion of Asia’s population: women.

Women in Asia are the most likely to be victims of sex-trafficking and least likely to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  50,000 female children are aborted every single month in South Asia. Females are the last to eat and the most likely to be illiterate. These women are among the poorest or the poor, living in most unreached parts of the world—”places that have yet to hear the Gospel. And many women cannot be approached by missionary men due to cultural customs, making their slim chance of hearing the Gospel even slimmer” (GFA). Illiterate, with no access to the gospel, unable to rise from their place of absolute poverty, likely to be sold into the sex-trade industry.

Wow. Sounds like women are a problem, right? 

 Actually, they’re the solution.

The exciting part is that now, more than ever, we’re seeing a movement of women helping women. Rather than being swallowed whole by this issue, they are overcoming evil with good. The powerful documentary, Volviendo, tells the stories of sex-trafficking survivors being rescued, healed, restored to wholeness, then returning to the streets in order to reach out and rescue more women. (If you live in the NW, consider contacting the film-makers for a free screening of the movie, and chance to hear them personally share about their experience, findings, and opportunities to join the cause.) 

Gospel for Asia is investing in women missionaries in an exciting and effective strategy to reach these especially vulnerable women in Asia. Native female missionaries have many advantages over US missionaries, or even male native missionaries:

• She moves freely in areas restricted to outsiders or men and is accepted in good times and bad.
• She knows the cultural taboos instinctively.
• She has already mastered the language or a related dialect.
• She lives among the community, eating the same food, wearing the same clothes, and sharing the same cultural interests.
• She has a passion and burden to reach women in Asia. (From GFA)

One of the most common sentiments I hear from women (and men) is, “What can I do to help, from right where I am?” It’s hard to imagine making much of a difference in a situation halfway across the world. But there is one easy way:

Support a native female missionary. 

Check out GFA’s information on female missionaries. For only $30/month (less than an iphone data plan!) you can support one of these women who have a unique advantage in overcoming evil with good. They can do what we can’t do.