7.14.08 :: YSM: 25th Birthday
The only comfort
is knowing that you're
all alone.
What a frightening security to hold on to
as you're dropped into the ocean with
a mere lifeboat.The only belonging is
to yourself.
Strangers frown beside you as you
continue the next leg if
you're lucky.The body and soul are between life and death
again. And again.Who is left to pay up for
wracked up sins and devastating mistakes (not all yours)
but you?Who will kick away the devil's trap,
free you from bondage, even if
one knot at a time?
There's no time left.
Blistered hands and feet that have walked
much
too
long
do not help.The watches of the day that unwound the
terrors of the night
now stop
with a sad shake of head.
There is no will to stop the hair pulling,
the tear spilling.Salvation seems lifetimes ago.
No assurance now of anything.
No word of courage to make the preposterous possible.
You live only
to live alone.**Based on the contents of the Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1.
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There have been a few 25th birthdays creeping around the corner. All these folks turning the same age as me. In fact, today, one of the youth said "it's my 25th birthday tomorrow" to which I replied "happy early birthday", then winced. "Yeah, not so happy," the youth scoffed back. Sorrow crept into my heart. Not much I can do to help him now, except to give him a few work shirts and pants to get him going into his adult life. He protested and argued and was generally full of complaint, but who could blame him? He's just a scared kid being launched into the "real world," whatever the hell that is.
Once the youth turn 25 - the very day of their birthday - they are no longer allowed to enter the grounds of Evergreen. Only with exceptions can they come in for a few last services. It's basically a system issue.
Can you imagine being ripped away from your community like that? In fact, the youth are ripped away from all the communities that service 16-24 year olds. We have youth that lie their way into our centre, but once we find out, they're gone.
Why does our social system create such pain for our youth? "So much for being honest about my age," I've heard a number of youth say. Honesty is a good thing, but how is it good in these cases? What can you say to the youth? It'll work out in the end? God approves of your good deed? You'll get to heaven one day? Nothing you do can make it immediately well, and that's frustrating.
We debrief about our almost-turning-25 youth a lot at work. How do we work with them to set them off into other services? Do we help them transition well? I think most of the youth shy away from thinking about it. It's painful, and they already live pain-filled lives. Criteria like this only foster more brokenness in the youth.
It's a tricky business, this social work stuff. If our society was able to see the image of God in people, I wonder if this will still remain the way youth services are provided? Can we change these conditions to something that regards people in more positive ways, rather than leechers on a system?
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7.1.08 :: Imagination
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein"We need more of the prophetic imagination that can interrupt violence and oppression." - Shane Claiborne
"Violence reflects futility, a loss of political imagination." - Dieter T. Hessel
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It's fitting to be pondering about the imagination on Canada Day, and Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw's talk on Jesus for President nicely brought it up last night.
The imagination is not something often equated with the nation or with politics. And if it was, it would most likely lean negative. But about a redemptive use of the imagination, one that brings good to people?
Shane reminded us about how one Amish community, after facing a devastating tragedy in which a man shot dead five of their schoolchildren, creatively sought redemption in caring for the widow and children of the shooter. Instead of focusing on their loss, they recognized the brokenness of the shooter and his family, and immediately found ways to bring healing to them.
Acts like these capture our imagination simply because it throws us off the usual track - one that would normally take us down to thoughts that conjure up how to exact punishment on the guilty and their family. Ours is a violently punitive justice system, and the Amish community showed us just that.
So, how can I use my imagination to help my community to live more redemptively?
Well, I'm a dreamer. Imagination, I've got. I've got lists of ideas tucked away on bristol boards, piles of notebooks, and computer files that shame me. They are sadly good intentions not pursued. And the same old tune of laziness, excuses and fear of the consequences is sung every time the ideas want to sprout a little further than scribbles on a piece of paper.
Yes, the old familiar story. The telling gets old, doesn't it?
It's here I realize I think I should be doing it all on my own. I forget that if these are God-given ideas, God will grant the strength and wisdom to make things happen, so long as we ask. Psalm 65:5b states that God is "the confidence of all the ends of the earth" (NKJV). If strength, wisdom, and confidence are all gifts from God for us to live out his purposes, then why do I let the fruit of my imagination wither?
Well, I guess it's time to strap on the humility, and saddle up on that horse. The ride might be long, but it will be worth it.