The Meaning of Life

I already posted this as a note on facebook, but I'm going to post it here too...

Ever since I moved out, my mom has found it necessary to give me all of her old Time Magazines after she reads them. (I'm not sure why... I didn't really read them when I lived at home either.) But the most recent magazine had a section called "Time Health - The Battle for Global Health" that caught my eye. It featured a photo of a mother from Africa nursing her malaria infected infant. The section includes a handful of pages about the malaria plague that is killing many people in developing countries, especially those in Africa. It summarizes the horrific statistics of malaria victims, as well as some of the newest treatments that can withstand the long journeys and harsh environments of many countries.

Needless to say, I was excited to see a magazine as big as Time giving so much attention to a global issue like malaria. However, the thing that got my attention most was a small section of the feature entitled "The Unlikely Leader." Ray Chambers, a 67 year old man and former businessman, is leading the fight against malaria. (Apparently he's pretty well-known, but I had to look him up on Wiki (: ) The most interesting part is what Chambers says about his own involvement in the fight. You see, Ray Chambers came up with the concept of a leveraged buyout, a concept which made him "fabulously rich - but not happy" (Time Magazine). In 1987, he visited an inner-city youth project, where he offered to pay the college tuition of more than 1,000 teenagers "if they stayed the path." According to Chambers, that made him feel great. So what did he do? This incredibly rich and successful man "closed his investment firm and became a philanthropist, giving away $50 million" within the next 4 years. Recently, Chambers started Malaria No More after being inspired by children in Mozambique who died after suffering from "malarial comas."

The thing that I find most interesting about this story of Ray Chambers is the fact that he found no happiness in wealth and success. Furthermore, the thing he finds his fulfillment in is giving away money, helping disadvantaged teens, and fighting a global epidemic as a full-time job. Although they probably didn't mean to, the authors of this little article have captured something that so many people are searching for. Christ talks about it in Luke 9. "Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?'"

When is the last time that we, even as Christians, have tried to live in order to deny ourselves? That isn't the American way. But it's what we were created to do. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God has a plan for you and I to change the world we live in - and that's not to sound cheesy, it's what God's Word says. We were meant to be people who serve God by serving others. This will likely call for blood, sweat, and tears - literally. But, just as Ray Chambers found true happiness in denying himself and helping those in need, we too will find great joy and fulfillment as we serve our purpose. Only when we live a life of obedience, service, and sacrificial love will we truly find the meaning of life as a child of the King.

Surely We Can Change - David Crowder Band

And the problem is this

We were bought with a kiss

But the cheek still turned

Even when it wasn’t hit

And I don’t know

What to do with a love like that

And I don’t know

How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world

Is right here among us

And hatred too

So we must choose what our hands will do

Where there is pain

Let there be grace

Where there is suffering

Bring serenity

For those afraid

Help them be brave

Where there is misery

Bring expectancy

And surely we can change, surely we can change

Something

And the problem it seems

Is with you and me

Not the Love who came

To repair everything

And I don't know what to do with a love like that

And I don't know how to be a love like that

Humililty

I often find myself struggling with pride. It's something that I've only recently recognized, so I still face it on a regular basis. Pride, combined with the fact that I always feel the need to share my thoughts aloud, makes a bad mix. I'm trying to think, really think, before I speak. And I'm trying to focus on times when I feel most humbled. So here it goes...

IJM (International Justice Mission) at Union. We met every Sunday to pray for each request that the IJM staff emailed us. We usually went around in a circle, each taking one request at a time. We typically spent about 45 minutes in prayer. I remember a week when the circumstances facing IJM workers were particularly heavy. In the middle of this time, one of the girls simply slid off the pew and fell to her knees in prayer. I suddenly felt humbled. Humbled to be a part of such a strong, dedicated group of Christians. Humbled to be in the presence of a Holy God, so Holy that this girl felt the need to get on her knees. Humbled to be a small part of what IJM is doing.

Youth group. Yep, youth group. Being a part of the youth leaders, especially now that Chris and I are married, has been extremely humbling. I am young and often foolish, so I felt (and feel) very unfit to be in the position I am in. How is it that the students are growing and maturing when I am often a poor example of what a Christian should be? Looking over a group of 40 students with their hands in the air and their voices crying out to God makes me extremely thankful for the privilege of being called one of their leaders, especially since I often feel that they are the ones leading me.

Despite these experiences, I am in no way a master of humility. I am taking it day by day, making a conscious effort to give all the glory and honor to the One who is deserving. But these little moments remind me just how small and foolish I am and just how big and awesome He is, and that He wants to use me anyway.

Busy Days and Big Decisions

Well, Chris and I are married now (obviously) and loving every crazy minute of it! We are still learning about how to communicate, cook, and everything in between. I couldn't have found a more perfect husband.

I (Erica) am also learning what it means to be a pastor's wife. First of all, it means a CRAZY schedule that could change at any minute. We barely ever have down time! Sometimes I fear that the "busyness" of ministry gets in the way of the mission of ministry - to reach others. Then again, there is a business side of ministry that many people fail to recognize. Learning to balance is the key.

I (still Erica) am also contemplating a degree change... going into my Junior year of college!!! (Crazy, I know.) I would REALLY like to do Global Missions, but no local schools offer that. So instead, I think I may switch from Elementary Mathematics to Social Work, although my advisor is begging me to stay. I'm still praying about it, but I have been feeling a sense of peace and excitement about the opportunities that Social Work offers, so we will see. Prayers would be appreciated :D

Well, I'm off to do some more laundry after having our washing machine broken for 3 days. Life is good. :)

Five More Days

Yes, only five more days until the wedding... ahhh! I'm excited and scared. I guess I'm starting this blog now because I want to remember the things that Chris and I go through as we start a life together. That's why I'm starting it now, but it's not the reason I'm starting it. For anyone who really knows me, I hope it's obvious that social justice is one of my greatest passions. (By "social justice," I mean things like feeding the hungry, ending trafficking, helping those in need, etc.... I always hated when people used fancy phrases like "social justice" and never explained them.) I really struggled in choosing my major for college...missions or education. Now that I'm an education major (and a math one at that), I'm really trying to figure out practical, meaningful ways to really bring justice and awareness. That's the main reason I'm blogging - to brainstorm, to share experiences, and to look back at what God is doing. (Although I'm sure many of my newly married experiences will make their way into these posts as well.)

Justice really became important to me during my high school years. I was involved in a youth group that was very global-minded. We were taught God's Word in order to change the world, not just to change our personal relationships with Christ. My youth leaders from those years are probably the most influential people in my life. Although I'm sure they don't realize it, I think of them every single day. They really inspired me to be passionate about love and compassion toward God's people. After all, He has been loving and compassionate to me. I learned that serving others is the most fulfilling part of being on this earth, and I really want to keep growing in that way.

Of course, I am not perfect. By any means. (You prooobably knew that.) But I feel God really calling me to make other people aware of the work to be done in this life. That's why we're here. And ultimately, that's what I hope to accomplish through this blog. "Justice is what love looks like in public."

In the mean time, I am so anxious for the wedding to come! I am marrying a man who shares my passion for needy people, and I know he will be a godly leader to myself and our family in the next years that we share together.