"Training is needed in order to love properly; and to be able to give happiness and joy, you must practice deep looking directed toward the person you love. Because if you do not understand this person, you cannot love properly. Understanding is the essence of love. If you cannot understand, you cannot love." -Thic Naht Han "
"The fruit of Silence is prayer. The fruit of Prayer is faith. The fruit of Faith is love. The fruit of Love is service. The fruit of Service is Peace. " -Mother Teresa"
Earlier this month, as I was coming home from work, I was stopped on the corner of my street by a street evangelist. It was, unfortunately, a very impersonal experience. The older man was friendly, but was so determined to have me a say a prayer with him, that he never asked what my name was or what I did for a living. After asking a few questions about what I had done wrong in my life, I was quickly ushered into the first line of the sinners prayer. I stopped the well intentioned man right after the line "Okay, repeat after me...", and informed him that I was something of a missionary myself.
Perhaps it is because of the environment that I grew up in that can I relate all too well with the man who stopped me. In past experiences with the Church, I often felt pressure to convince people to believe the things that I believed. But, if the God he was telling me of was, "Not a religion but a relationship", it would seem that his focus wouldn't be on making sure that I believe all the right things, so much as it would be on trying to get to know me. Sometimes our efforts to love people have good intentions behind them, but if there is no understanding of the person we are aiming to bring life to, we will not know what they need to experience God's love.
A large part of Jesus's ministry did constitute speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven, but there was a point where his love for us became actions. There may be appropriate times to tell others about God's love, but as people seeking to be understood, we often place a large priority on one aspect of Jesus's ministry over the other. "The fruit of love is service". And how can we best love, unless we understand? And how can we understand unless we listen? As we seek to embody the love of God in our lives, may the prayer of our hearts be as Saint Francis of Assis inquired, "Grant that I may not so much seek to be understood than to understand...for it is in giving that we receive... and in dying that we are born into eternal life".
Simple Living
As I continue down the transformative path of art and faith, it has been a wonderful experience discovering how my talents can be used within the Kingdom of Heaven. As my awareness of the pain in, and around me increases, spoken word poetry has served as an outlet to process all that I have been learning. I have found a supportive community of poets this past month in North Philadelphia who run a workshop called, "Pecola Breedlove". Performing at Breedlove has been very life giving, and as I enter into this last trimester of MY2, I am thrilled to be able to spend this season with their community as I expand my experience as a performing artist.
As a step in the direction of pursuing my career as an artist, I plan on releasing a C.D. of my poems later this month. In order to raise the necessary funds for my second year with Mission Year, all proceeds will go towards my remaining fundraising goal. "Blessed Are Those Who Mourn" will be a tribute to faith, justice, pain and healing.
The album will be a suggested minimum donation of $9, for 12 poems ( That's only $0.75 a poem! ;D ).
Please stay tuned for other updates.
Hey folks, I could use your help! As I try to live out this second year of intentionally learning, living and loving any prayers or words or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I also have a financial need of $3,610.33 dollars to help fund my full immersion into this way of life that covers all of my living expenses for the year, including groceries, public transportation, rent and more. I welcome your partnership this year and invite you to consider becoming a one-time or monthly donor. I am equally thankful for your ongoing spiritual and financial support. I pray that God blesses you in all that you do this month and would encourage you in the pursuit to love your neighbor as yourself!
Special shout out to...Dawson Vosburg, and Conner McFarlin, thanks guys!
Simple Living
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