Day 1
40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Day 1
Questions to Ponder:
1.
Jesus’s commandment in John 15:12 is to “love
one another as I have loved you”
2.
If this commandment is Jesus’ “yoke”, how might
we b changed if we bear it without resistance?
Wow! Life would be totally and radically changed if I were to follow that commandment without hesitation. Love all as Jesus loved me. In today’s day and age that is a huge ‘risk’. In conversation recently we were talking about helping those on the street that beg outside the stores or on the corner in our little town. A challenge was made as to why I(we) turn the other way, don’t make eye contact, and ignore those who beg. I am brought to the passage were Jesus teaches about “those who have done for the least of these has also done to me will be saved”. As I examine my life, I know that I have often turned my head and heart too many times. I excuse it by saying it is for my own safety. How many hitch hikers have I bypassed because I was alone or with my daughter and questioned the motives of those on the street. If I took that commandment to heart and followed it, how could the life of the person I reached out to have been changed. When and where is the line drawn? Can we draw a line? How do we determine what is safe and what is not? Should we or do we put it all in God’s hands and pray for the protection only offered by God. I know the answer is to help the stranger. Give them a ride, buy them something to eat, get them to a shelter, help with education, anything to help them out. That is what Jesus would have done and would like us to do. It is getting over myself and laying it on the line that will make the difference. The only thing seen by those who are asking for help, up to this point, is rejection. Jesus didn’t reject anyone came to him for help and was open to his teachings. Can I be more like Jesus? If I say I’ll take baby steps in the process, but is that enough? It is so difficult to just let go.
Wow! Life would be totally and radically changed if I were to follow that commandment without hesitation. Love all as Jesus loved me. In today’s day and age that is a huge ‘risk’. In conversation recently we were talking about helping those on the street that beg outside the stores or on the corner in our little town. A challenge was made as to why I(we) turn the other way, don’t make eye contact, and ignore those who beg. I am brought to the passage were Jesus teaches about “those who have done for the least of these has also done to me will be saved”. As I examine my life, I know that I have often turned my head and heart too many times. I excuse it by saying it is for my own safety. How many hitch hikers have I bypassed because I was alone or with my daughter and questioned the motives of those on the street. If I took that commandment to heart and followed it, how could the life of the person I reached out to have been changed. When and where is the line drawn? Can we draw a line? How do we determine what is safe and what is not? Should we or do we put it all in God’s hands and pray for the protection only offered by God. I know the answer is to help the stranger. Give them a ride, buy them something to eat, get them to a shelter, help with education, anything to help them out. That is what Jesus would have done and would like us to do. It is getting over myself and laying it on the line that will make the difference. The only thing seen by those who are asking for help, up to this point, is rejection. Jesus didn’t reject anyone came to him for help and was open to his teachings. Can I be more like Jesus? If I say I’ll take baby steps in the process, but is that enough? It is so difficult to just let go.
3.
Why might following Jesus’ commandment lead to
rough “decisions and painful separations”?
When you agree to follow Jesus’s teachings, not everyone agrees with that decision in your life. Even attending seminary is not popular with some of my extended family. The ultimate consequence of loving everyone as Jesus loved us would be in something bad would happen through the kindness to a stranger who did not have honorable intentions when asking for assistance. Trust is a difficult thing. When that trust is broken that could be a consequence of following the commandment too. Saying and doing are two different things. It is easy to say “trust God and all will be taken care of” and it is another thing to actually trust God and trust that all will be taken care of in a safe and easy matter.
When you agree to follow Jesus’s teachings, not everyone agrees with that decision in your life. Even attending seminary is not popular with some of my extended family. The ultimate consequence of loving everyone as Jesus loved us would be in something bad would happen through the kindness to a stranger who did not have honorable intentions when asking for assistance. Trust is a difficult thing. When that trust is broken that could be a consequence of following the commandment too. Saying and doing are two different things. It is easy to say “trust God and all will be taken care of” and it is another thing to actually trust God and trust that all will be taken care of in a safe and easy matter.
Journal Reflections:
1. I presently follow Jesus…that is a tough answer. It is not difficult to day that I try to be kind, live as an example of Jesus in the world, love my neighbors, pray throughout the day, give to others, help where needed, and do all the “Christian” things a Christina is supposed to do. However, do I really do those things. Yes. I do them when it is convenient, safe, and easy. Yes, I try to do them in my mind when interactions are not necessary. No, I don’t love ALL my neighbors. No, I don’t help everyone I should. No, I don’t give as much as I should to God’s work. No, I don’t fully trust in God to take care of everything. Could I? Should I? How? Honesly, I am a controlling type of personality. I like to know what is happening, when it is happening, and who is involved. I want to anticipate the outcome and expect things to turn out as I want them too.
I need to get over myself and lay it all in God’s Hands.
Not easy. Not easy at all. Take the plunge or baby steps? I will falter in either capacity. What does it exactly mean to turn it all over to God and lay it all in God’s Hands? Do I say “here God, I need you to direct my life and handle it all” Do I throw my hands up in the air and say “OK God, you are in control now”. How does it actually work? I have many more questions than answers.
2. There is joy in discipleship but there is also a burden to bear. The burden of no control, the unknown, the answers. Following Jesus has it joyful, uplifting moments. It also has times of trial and turmoil in families and in the public sector.
3. I do sense that Jesus is leading me to help those who are outcast in our society. I feel led to help the immigrants in our area, though few and diverse, there are some who may need a friendly face. I sense a need to minister to the homeless and help those who are mentally ill or suffering after serving our country. I feel led to help those with drug addiction and cannot find a way out. There are many in the community I call home. So, what is holding me back?
Fear. There are so many levels of fear. A) time away from family, b) being sucked into a volunteer position with no way to opt out when family time becomes more demanding, c) financially not able to help and keep ourselves afloat, d) not enough time and energy or hours in the day, e) family reactions to being gone even more and hearing how my daughter and what I am missing.
There is so much need, where does one draw the line when called to serve. Why does it have to be so hard? Why can people not understand the needs and desire to help? Why do we live in our bubble and pray/hope it changes on its own? Why?
