Dignity... Friday, two experiences led me to think about the idea of dignity. Friday morning Vic and I visited what remains of the home of a New Orleans man named Ronald. Vic was introduced to Ronald during our January trip and Vic was on the team that gutted Ronald's flood ravaged house. Vic wanted to visit the house on this trip and see if any further progress had been made on it and sadly, we found that it had stayed the way they left it after it was gutted. So, Vic and I pulled up and looked around. We nudged the front door and found it was open for anyone to walk right in. We took the liberty to have another look around and that's when I began thinking about this idea of dignity. I wondered if any dignity remained for some of these people. Many are completely dependent on others for food, shelter, and random people like like me and Vic are able to roam around in what is left of their home. Many are forced to live in FEMA trailers.
Many westerners, myself very much included, go through life with a deep sense of entitlement. When we go to a restaurant we feel entitled to receive flawless service. When a new product or toy comes on the scene we feel entitled to have it. My childhood, by God's amazing grace, was simple and comfortable. Mom and dad stayed married, food was on the table for every meal, I had plenty of good comfortable clothes to wear, plenty of space to play, and a good car to drive. All of that was so consistent and available that I think I eventually began thinking, "I must deserve and be entitled to these things." But in truth, I am not entitled to any of that. They were gifts. The family, the food, the security...gifts. And according to the Bible the only gift that we can count on to always be there is God himself. And if I take God at his word, if all of those other things are taken away, I'll have all I'll ever need in the gift of himself.
What is entitlement? Really, what are we entitled to? Anything? The Bible says the things of this world will be gone sometime anyway, so why grow accustomed to getting what you want?
In the book of Acts, it says the early Christians knew how to live on very little. It says they put their resources together and saw that everyone had their needs provided for. I doubt they had near the sense of entitlement that I/we do. Life was a continual flow of giving and receiving.
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there was no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Acts 4:32-35
When life is perceived as gift and not something we've been entitled to, everything changes. When life is perceived as gift, the Kingdom of God is activated and set in motion.
Perhaps some followers of Christ who had to endure Katrina, 9/11, and other disastrous perspective adjusting experiences have a head start on some of the rest of us. I'm not sure why God has used these trips to New Orleans to stir up my soul and ask so many questions. There's just so many layers and so many lessons to be had through my time there.
In the heat of June, me and Angie and hopefully the majority of our village will be returning to NO to build a couple homes with habitat for humanity. I can't wait to experience the life and lessons with more of my Denver friends.
Grace & Peace
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