What is CompassionLink?

What is CompassionLink?

That one word

One word. I just had to think of one word. 

As it does every year, January first came and went, and I successfully neglected to choose that one word to focus on in the new year. In theory, I really like the idea of choosing one word. I appreciate the precision and the conciseness of the endeavor, but finding that one, perfect, all encompassing, wondrous word always eluded me. Granted, seeking perfection instead of inspiration probably distracted me a bit.

Yet, a moment presented itself a couple of weeks ago, forcing me from my self-imposed neglect to successfully choose that one word.

Some of Mexico City's finest ministers and leaders breakfasted together on a recent Wednesday morning when my friend and missionary colleague, Sandy Kazim, challenged us to choose that one word to focus on in the new year. Choose your word, she said. Write it down. Share it with a table mate. Alas, there would be no getting out of this one.

Think, Wendy, think.

How about faith? Faith is a good word. Familiar and prosaic maybe, but a solid choice. Or what about hope? Hope is a good, too. Poetic and strong; it sounds especially lyrical in Spanish – esperanza. Sort of just rolls off your tongue …

Focus, Wendy, focus.

As I listened to a room full of women serving fearlessly under some of the most trying circumstances in Mexico City, I found myself coveting their relentless spirit. Overwhelmed with news from my own country in a tempest tossed year of post-truth, alternative facts, and bald-faced lies I realized in that moment exactly what I needed. Courage.

I found my one word.

Yes, courage. Courage to face down the lies. Courage to fight for the truth. Courage to live faithfully. Courage to pray fearlessly. Courage to preach prophetically. I choose courage. Courage is a choice after all, is it not?

A long time ago, and many times since, the people of God had a choice between fear and courage. As per Moses' instructions, twelve leaders of Israel explored the land of Canaan. After forty days, they returned with a cluster of grapes and an honest, objective account of all they witnessed. Seizing the moment, Caleb encouraged Moses to take possession of the land. We should go, he said. We can certainly do it.

But the men who went with Caleb said, No we can't. And they began to spread a bad report among the Israelites.

Often when we refer to this story, we qualify the bad report as nothing more than unfortunate news we don't want to deal with. But such an anemic interpretation distracts us from the very essence and the severe consequences of the bad report referenced here.

To be clear, an honest accounting or an unfortunate diagnosis is not in and of itself a bad report. It may be bad news, for sure, but the truth cannot be ignored or dismissed just because it proves difficult. On the contrary, and more specifically, a bad report exaggerates the truth, embellishes the facts, and serves only to dissuade believers from acting courageously and living faithfully to God's commands.

I'll let you in on a little secret. When you're afraid, it's much easier to disobey God when you can convince everyone else in your sphere of influence to disobey as well. Just skew the truth. Offer a common enemy. Unite them in fear. It's an age-old tactic. But you knew that already, right? We've all seen it before.

With an impassioned appeal, Joshua and Caleb tried to inspire the people of God to move forward, but to no avail. Fear won out that day. And everybody lost.

God offered his people a good gift. A solid promise. But the faithless actions of determined, frightened men treated God's good gift as evil and it worked. Wholly and stubbornly united in fear, the people of God chose to remain outside of God's promise.

“If only we had died in Egypt!” they cried. “Or in this desert!” they lamented. In a twist of irony, they got what they wished for. The fearful men claimed the land would devour them if they chose to go, but in the end it was the wilderness that swallowed them up. All of them. Not one of the faithless, fearful men ever saw the land of promise or enjoyed its abundance. A future generation would claim what the previous generation feared.

Truth be told, courage does not shield us from heartache nor does it guarantee we won't suffer loss. But courage gives us something fear never will: A clear conscience before God. A chance to live with reckless abandon. A shot at the promise land.

Daily, I am overwhelmed with bad reports inciting me to fear refugees fleeing, despise women marching, distrust scientists researching, and criticize people of color protesting. Enough already. Choose what you will, but I choose truth. I choose life. I choose compassion.

I choose courage.

I am grateful for the Joshuas and Calebs of today. Faithful men who serve with humility, choose their words wisely, value the unblemished truth, and respect the image of God in all humanity. Thank God for the Esthers and Deborahs of our world! Courageous women who rise to the challenge, lead with integrity, and face down ungodly empires even when their very lives are on the line. I'm with them.

I choose courage. 

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:30

Do Not Be Afraid

Contrary to a popular Facebook meme, the Bible does not say 365 times, “do not be afraid.” Although, it certainly says it often enough we should take notice. Yet, as popular as that meme has been, ironically no one has shared it in the wake of last week's events. Instead, I've seen numerous articles and opinions shared by friends and colleagues alike encouraging just the opposite. It's as if they want everyone else to be as scared as they are.

I get it. Recent world events remind us all once again that insidious evil lurks among us. We want to protect our families. We want to trust our government is doing their best. We want to feel safe and secure, but we feel vulnerable instead. At a time like this I need to hear Jesus say, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14.27).

Yet, when suicide bombers target funerals (Baghdad), public markets (Beirut), and popular tourist attractions (Paris) it's difficult to immediately recall and meditate on the words of Jesus. Yet we must.

“Never again!” challenges the previous generation. And we promised, did we not, to never again turn our back on such evil and atrocity? We remember and honor those, like Corrie ten Boom and her family, who risked their lives to harbor the refugees of their day. Each and every one of those people had to consider the possibility that the enemy could infiltrate their homes when they opened their doors. They counted the cost (and many paid the price) and still they chose the way of Jesus. They chose love over fear. They chose courage over despair. And history remembers them as heroes.

How does history remember those who closed their doors and refused to help?

How will history remember us?

The fact that the world can be a scary, violent place should not take us by surprise. Jesus warned, “In this world you will have trouble.” But then he quickly adds, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

As we enter the season of Advent, it seems especially appropriate to consider and meditate on the numerous times the Bible emphatically declares, “Do not be afraid,” throughout the Christmas story.

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13).

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God” (Luke 1.30).

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).

As a baby, Jesus entered into a scary and violent world. As a toddler, his family sought refuge in a foreign land to escape the murderous Herod. I imagine fear constantly tried to seduce Mary throughout her son's life and ministry. Fear certainly had many opportunities to rear its ugly head and incapacitate her. Yet, we know Mary remained vigilant to the angel's message, “Do not be afraid,” for we see her standing courageously to the very end at the foot of Jesus' cross.

Make no mistake, fear is seductive. It feeds on insecurity and self-preservation. It limits our capacity to live freely and to love fully. But John tells us, “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4.18).

I agree with Jen Hatmaker, the last thing the world needs is “a bunch of scared, overwhelmed Christians wringing their hands and resorting to cliches. This world needs strong, convinced, courageous people who really believe God and are prepared to follow Him into every dark place.” (Read more here.)

I know we live in a scary, violent world, but I also know we can overcome fear and evil with radical love, generosity of spirit, Christ-inspired compassion, and with our heads held high and our mouths declaring God's truth to bring light and life to a dark and weary world.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!” 

(Luke 2:10, 11)

May God bless you with discomfort

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your hearts.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Amen

(A Franciscan Benediction, Sr. Ruth Marlene Fox, 1985)