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Tuesday, 29 September 2009
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God is Love.
God is infinite.
I am finite.
Keep that in mind and try to stay with me through this next bit...
Love exists. It is an invisible, intangible force that is undeniably present, manifesting itself differently all over the world. If I can believe in love, than I can also believe in God; for they are inseparable: God is love.
In one week, I experience moments of love given and received more times than I can remember. Things like: an understanding smile from a close friend who can see straight through my mask, a note left for a friend who needs to know she is cared and appreciated for, an anonymous act of service done for another, a meal shared with friends, etc. These are all seemingly normal moments, but they are moments where real love is exchanged.
If I believe that God is love, and I experience indisputable acts of love in a week, than wouldn't it make sense to say that I experience God?
If I am seeking to experience an infinite God in a tangible, finite way, I must look at my human context; for it is there that the tangible reigns supreme.
God's love is manifested for each of us in our everyday. God loves you and God loves me. Just look around.
...special thanks to my love, Ryan...
Friday, 11 September 2009
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"photographer" in soshanguve
hace mucho tiempo...ya lo se. (sorry, every now and then i just need to spit out some spanish to remind myself that i am still semi-capable. heh)
this entry will be dedicated to the township of soshanguve:
one of my friends here (oupa johannes) is from this area. (in the picture below, he is on the far left...):
in soshanguve (locally known as "sosh"), i was given a rare and amazing opportunity (thank you, chris!) to play photographer (see below) for a day!
twenty hardworking careworkers (ladies who work with aids patients in their homes) were given a day to play the role of supermodels rather than nurses. so, after enjoying lunch together we all made our way to a park across from the mabopane train station (the pictures below are indeed the train station):
and here's what happened (aren't they gorgeous!?):
these ladies had FUN! they work hard, every single day...and deal with grief and other hardships to a degree that most of us will never understand. but on this day, they were able to "let their hair down" and just relax. and i too had a great time. there was no sense of hierarchy; we ate side by side and played side by side.. it was refreshing and wonderful, to say the least. it is a neat experience to be living "ministry" in such a different and healthy manner:
Friday, 21 August 2009
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a caucasion latin american in africa?
My soul leaped. Each step I took seemed lighter than before. Knowledge, irrelevant to my current environment, was brought back to life. A part of me returned. "Transmilenio", she said. That was all it took. One seemingly meaningless word uncovered something inside of me I had hidden away. I turned and quickly wiped the single tear that escaped from my eye. With that tear escaped the weight of a heavy burden: the desire to be understood.*
[For those that have no context for what I am trying to express, let me attempt to explain: I have been outside of Colombia for 9 months and here in South Africa for 7 of those months. I met a lady about a week ago, here in South Africa, who was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia...where I spent about 9 years of my life. She is Colombian!! I have not accessed that part of me since I have been on this continent and when she referenced one of the bus systems in Bogotá (Transmilenio), she accessed a part of me that has been unknown to anyone here. It is difficult to convey the depth to which this impacted me...in fact, it actually surprised and reminded me how much of my heart still resides in Latin America.]
*I realize that she cannot understand me completely, particularly after only limited interactions. However, she immediately understood the Latin American in me...as peculiar as this may sound, it is often the part of me I prefer.
We ended up having lunch together this week and spoke puro español (!) for about three hours and my insides were lit and alive. Walking through the streets of downtown Pretoria, speaking Spanish, and drinking coffee transported me back to walking the streets of Bogotá (Colombia) or San Jose (Costa Rica, not California). It was a good feeling.
I often wonder how I became what I am. Physcially, I am a caucasion North American born abroad. Culturally, I am a third-culture-kid who relates largely with Latin America. Locationally, I am in Africa. Sometimes I wish I could have an easy label for myself...but I have begun embracing the varieties inside of me.
Wednesday, 05 August 2009
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a clear call
"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." -James 1:27
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil;
Learn to do good;
Seek justice;
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow."
-Isaiah 1:16-17 -
Currently
Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea (Modern Library Chronicles)
By Mark Kurlansky
see related"I think it is important to acknowledge here that nonviolence does not mean the mere absence of violence. It is something more positive, more meaningful than that. The true expression of non-violence is compassion, which is not just a passive emotional response, but a rational stimulus to action. To experience genuine compassion is to develop a feeling of closeness to others combined with a sense of responsibility for their welfare. This develops when we accept that other people are just like ourselves in wanting happiness and not wanting suffering." -the Dalai Lama
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