I know I've written on the subject of stewardship before, but as my congregation looks towards Christmas and the end of 2010, I've been reflecting on how we are going to greet the new year. I've also been thinking a lot about the subject matter of my previous post (see "Our New Reality"). It's been heavy on my heart this week, so much so that I even wrote to one of my state senators about it. I've never written a letter (well, it was an email) to a politician before, and so it was a new experience. I asked the senator if he could convince me that there was more going on in Washington than petty bickering between Republicans and Democrats. The Ameircan people, I said, need more evidence that our elected leaders can behave like adults and get along with respect and dignity. From down here on the ground, it looks like we've elected spoiled children who are moving closer and closer towards having separate water fountains for Republicans and Democrats.
Any other party gets to drink the leftovers that spill onto the ground. Maybe what this country needs is some good old fashion political segregation in order to make sure that these two major parties don't have to interact any more than they need to.
I say that in the spirit of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift (a great satirical essay that suggests the problem to the wealthy's complaint about overpopulation can be easily solved by instituting a healthy diet of small children).
I digress.
I've been thinking a lot about this lately, and I've been practically glued to the Presbyterian Church (USA) website (http://www.pcusa.org/). They have a lot of resources on the subject of justice and peacekeeping. There are times when I think we as a people have become numb to the issues around us. We're so used to hearing about war and death that many of us don't even flinch when we hear there was another roadside bombing. I must admit I am guilty of this as well.
It's time we woke up and pay attention to the world that's going on around us. It's time that we as a church took a step forward and made our voices known in the world that there is more going on than meets the eye. It's time we moved from asking the question "Well, what can we do about it?" to actually doing something about it. The possibilities for mission are endless. We can make a difference if we start looking past the end of our noses.
Of course, the tricky business is always putting theory into practice. This is one reason I've been glued to the church's website because I want to know what more I can do and how I can do it from where I am in Illinois.
So here is a list of five ideas to get you started. If you have a chance, please check out the denomination's website re: peacekeeping issues. There is a great blog called Swords Into Plowshares that provides all kinds of resources and raises awareness on a variety of issues. In the meantime, here is this list. Maybe one or two things will make it onto your list of possible New Year's Resolutions.
1) Spend five minutes a day praying for different areas of the world that need peace. Right now, there are a lot of prayer vigil efforts for our brothers and sisters in Sudan. They are voting on a referendum on Jan. 9, 2011 that if passed would make the South separate from the Arab north. The Genocide going on in Sudan has to come to an end. The referendum does not guarentee peace. There will always be dangers and the day of the vote itself is subject to sabatoge and violence. There are so many places like Sudan and Congo that are facing genocide and violence. Take a few minutes every day to pray for God to be a beacon in the lives of those who are in such desperate need of peace.
2) Write a letter or send an e-mail to a state representative. Find out what kind of peacemaking efforts he or she is involved in. Challenge your representative to step up and be a leader for peace in our nation and in our world. If you really feel called into this, maybe find a piece of legislation that is working towards peace and find a way to advocate for it by letter writing or wearing a button or t-shirt. The big one that is going on in debates in the senate right now that the PC (USA) peacekeeping committee is talking about is START, which is a treaty between the USA and Russia that works towards downsizing the nuclear warheads department (you can read more about START online if you want to read its pros and cons, because like all things, it has both).
3) Donate your time. Find an organization in your community that helps those in need. Whether it's a homeless shelter, a food pantry, or a children's hospital, there are so many ways to volunteer your time. Mission work is more than just writing a check; it's getting involved. Here in my town, we have a clothing giveaway in which people donate clothes of all shapes, sizes, and genders. Right now the giveaway happens in local churches, but they will soon have their own storefront. Volunteers go and help sort clothes by size and gender, and then once a month, the doors are open for people to come and get clothes. There is no payment involved, no money changes hand. It's simply a way for people who are in need of clothes to come and get clothes. Last month, the giveaway serviced 117 adults over the age of 12 (so that number isn't counting the children that came through too). I expect now at Christmas time, when they are giving away toys as well, that number will be much higher.
4) Resolve to engage in an end to "needless spending." How often to we buy things on a whim? We buy food we're never going to eat (or shouldn't eating) and clothes we're never going to wear. Think hard and carefully about each item before you buy it.
5) Clean your house. I know we're not even into Winter yet and I'm already talking about Spring Cleaning. But seriously. Go through your house. What clothes aren't you wearing? What toys aren't your kids (or you) playing with? What food is in your pantry that you know you're never going to use? Find a place to donate it. Talk to your pastor at church about organizations that take different donations or take it upon yourself to find those places.
Together we can make a difference in our world. We can no longer sit by and ask "Well, what can we do about it?" There's a LOT we can do about it. It's time to stop asking what we can do and actually DO. As Christians, we are called by God to take care of each other and God's world. We have been made the keepers of the garden. Let us truly mean what we say when we sing "Peace on Earth, Good Will to all God's creatures."
May the Peace of Christ bless you this Christmas season,
Pastor Becki
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