Attending a funeral of a friend, I had an epiphany. In listening to the eulogy and anecdotes of family and friends, I became aware of how little I knew of my friend’s life. My memories are a minute insight into the whole life of my friend, all that he achieved and all that he was and will forever be remembered for. When someone passes away, it seems that it’s at that point when we truly understand all of the things about the person that we will miss.
Life is a form of art. Through living we create, and what we create builds up or tears down ourself and others.
Human beings are predisposed to ‘do’ things. We find monotony or a lack of opportunity frustrating and dehumanising. The greatest work of human hands is found in challenging injustice and working for inclusion and opportunity for all people.
CORE SOCIETAL VALUE
Human dignity is a core societal value that inspires communities to look past their picket fence and encounter the stranger. In our tradition, we come to know this work through Jesus. His example and the commandments he gave us encourage us to look toward the margins and to be comfortable there. Comfort found in the presence of those who lack it or whose position, illness or choices make us uncomfortable is a challenging experience.
Entering into such a paradox draws from deep within us timeless and universal emotional responses. Splagchnizomai (Greek: to be moved as to one’s bowels, to be moved with compassion) is the word used in the Bible to describe this feeling. A feeling deep inside, perhaps even a pain felt in response to the empathy and compassion an encounter brings about. The challenge to create is therefore both human and divine. There is an urge or deep calling to ‘do something’ with our lives.
It is easy to love and build up people whom we are drawn to or who live in a similar way to us. But to be whole and content we must love ‘those’ others. Where we grow and find the deepest joy is in developing relationships with people whom we find challenging or whom we are conditioned to ignore or reject. When we do our work and create in those spaces, we bring about change. In doing so we find love, which can be surprising.
ENCOUNTERING OTHERS
When we encounter others, we come to see that we are all the same. We all want happiness and for our needs to be met. We have all been hurt and we can all fall on hard times. We have all been excluded at some time and know how debilitating ill health or lack of opportunity can be. We are all in this together.
I once saw a short clip of a ‘middle-aged’ wild American hippie-hillbilly that made me happy. He said, ‘One day I worked out that we are all on earth at the same time and in 100 years none of us will be. We are all the same crew and we only have this time together; we need to get along.’ What a beautiful understanding of humanity. All from a wild man whom I am certain many would reject. It also confirmed my belief that it’s our authentic character and idiosyncrasies that bring colour into the world.
Use the time you have today to consider who you truly are and what makes you happy. Do more of both. Highlight what you bring into the world and share it with great abandon. There is no limit to the love you have, and sharing it with more people will make you, and the world, much richer.
Seek more encounter in your life. Head to the margins and find comfort there. Advocate for those in need. There is so much pain you can heal by simply creating friendships. Creating friendships is simply a euphemism for feeling splagchnizomai and sharing love. If you have a desire to help a particular need in the world, do more of that. Remember though, that encounter and justice cannot be replaced by charity. Donating an extra $10 to you chosen charity is valuable, but you can only truly create through doing.
BUILD THE KINGDOM
Look ahead with excitement. Imagine all of the things you will be celebrated for by your loved ones when you enter into eternal life. Future-proof this vision by creating more now. Make more friends, revive old friendships and challenge yourself by going out into the deep with confidence. Seek justice for those who, for whatever reason, make you feel most uncomfortable. That is where you are called. It is also there that you can help the most. Your love and advocacy will unshackle them, it will heal them and allow them to achieve their potential too. Love begets love.
There is nothing else in life worth living for. Build the kingdom. You are well equipped and have both unlimited potential and opportunity.
