This authentic life
I finished the book Why We’re Not Emergentlast night. I am absolutely excited about this book, and would recommend it to anyone who has questions about ECM. Of course, my personal thoughts on the movement are pretty much in line with the authors. I am willing to bet that most who are sympathetic to the movement will not like this book. But, I digress…
One of the favorite buzzwords out there right now is “authenticity”. In the aforementioned book, one of the authors wrote about a man from his hometown church whose funeral he attended. This man’s life was of no serious significance outside of the small town in which he resided. But he was known and loved by all in that town and in that church. Within the small space he occupied on this earth, he made an enormous impact in the lives of thosehe encountered, and his impact will last for generations to come because of that.
I thought of this story as I sat at the Mother’s Day brunch for the Champaign County chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) had this past Saturday. Every year, mothers from the community are recognized for their faithful commitment to their families, churches and community. These women have lived long and fruitful lives, and yet many of them have never ventured much outside of Champaign County. The ripple effect of their faithfulness will continue through the lives of those they have touched, and this is no small accomplishment. They were not looking to “change the world” per se, but to be faithful to the Lord and the things and people He has blessed them with. In that, they have instilled values in their children and their children’s children that will be passed down, not the least of which is a deep and abiding love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
And then, there’s my mom. My mom is the president of the Champaign County NCNW, so she could not be nominated for any of the awards that were given. But she was awarded anyway in the form of a special presentation at the end of the brunch. Unbeknownst to her, we had flowers a card and a humongous balloon for her.
A very special person in our family gave testimony to the love that he was shown by my mom. Although he is not one of her biological children, he nevertheless calls her “mom” and considers my family the only family he has ever known. He has no family of his own - he never met his father, and his mother died when he was young. He has had much trouble with the law, having been incarcerated three times. He found his way to Champaign from Chicago as a parolee, and joined my parents’ church. My parents immediately adopted him. My mom and dad became his parents, and my mom showed him the love he never knew from his own mother.
As he tearfully shared about the love he has been shown by my parents, I formed a few conclusions about what being authentic is truly about. We seem to try all sorts fo new contraptions in worship services, trying to figure out how to “do” church in order to be “authentic”. Could it be that we miss the point? My parents have lived in the same community for most of their lives, and have built relationships and bonds with people. Walking through difficult situations. Loving them in spite of themselves sometimes. Loving them enough to speak truth into their lives, even when it would hurt. They did not need a new way to do church in order to do that. They did not need revamped programs or theology to be who they are. They simply have the love of Christ dwelling in them richly…they know the Word, both written and Living. They live the truth they were taught since their childhood.
My parents never set out to change the world - but they are changing the lives of those they touch every single day. They are storing up treasures in heaven that far surpass those that could ever be accumulated here. They fight injustice where they can, love with all their might, and live as faithfully as they know how. They are honest about their failures, and seek forgiveness when the need to. They do not abandon their friends and family in hard times. They live their lives - at the foot of the cross - as redeemed, forgiven, blood-bought children of God.
It seems we have much to learn from those who have traversed this road longer than we have. I wonder if we’re listening…
Grace and peace…
