A Challenge

"What, therefore, is our task today? Should I answer 'Faith, hope and love?' That sounds beautiful. But I would say - courage. No, even that is not challenging enough to be the whole truth. Our task today is recklessness. For what we Christians lack is not psychology or literature... we lack a holy rage - the recklessness which comes from the knowledge of God and humanity. The ability to rage when justice lies prostrate on the streets, and when the lie rages across the face of the earth... a holy anger about the things that are wrong in the world. To rage against the ravaging of God's earth and and the destruction of God's people. To rage when little children must die of hunger, while the tables of the rich are sagging with food. To rage at the senseless killing of so many, and the madness of militaries. To rage against the lie that calls the threat of death and the strategy of destruction peace. To rage against COMPLACENCY. To restlessly seek that recklessness that will challenge and seek to change human history until it conforms to the norms of the kingdom of God."

-Kaj Munk, 1944, killed by the Gestapo soon after

Cultural Training and Virginia Adventures

As many of you know, I have spent the past month doing cultural training in Virginia. There are many people here who are preparing to go to many different countries, so I have had diverse "cultural experiences," not just having to do with Asia (and I guess the earthquake today could count as one!).

First of all, this state is beautiful! Here is a view right outside where I'm staying:

Gorgeous, right? Virginia is so green! I'm hoping that some of the rain will make its way to Texas too. Also, I'm really enjoying the wild "Christmas trees" everywhere. I wish I could be here during Christmas time so I could decorate them.

In addition, there are TONS of cicadas here. Cicadas are sometimes called "locusts" in the south, but real locusts are in fact nasty giant grasshoppers. What we often call a locust (a big bug that sheds its shell) is actually a cicada. We've been finding shells all over the place, and when they emerge they're a really bright green! It's fascinating to watch them turn brown again within a matter of minutes once they emerge. Here's a nasty close-up picture for you:

This fella was trying to get into the door one night. He didn't succeed, but it was crazy watching him try. He was making so much noise banging against the windows, I seriously thought someone was knocking outside! I've also seen a giant moth the size of my fist. THAT was disgusting. Can you imagine squishing him? He had a big hairy body in between inches-long brown wings. *shudder*

In addition to some of nature's less desirable creatures, I have also seen some really cute ones! There are lots of chipmunks here, and it's fun to watch them scamper around. I also saw a groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, the other day, but alas, he dove into his hole before I could get a good look at him. Here is a picture of his abode though:

And did I mention that in addition to all this lovely scenery, I have actually been broadening my global perspective? Why yes indeed! So far, I have learned songs in Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, Ilocano, Burmese, Bahasa, and Hindi, and I have a lot more learning ahead. This week I am learning about Africa. In addition, I have eaten borscht for the first time (which was delicious!! I could eat it a lot more often), and also some food with meatballs and this salsa-like stuff that you use bread to pick up (not sure which region of the world it was from), and yesterday I had some really authentic-tasting Indian food! I also had to eat it with naan as opposed to a fork, and when that was gone I had to use my right hand to eat the rest! I think my hand still smells a bit like Indian spices even after multiple washings, but it's okay because it was so good.

And now, for the final cultural experience. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there is a squatty potty here:

The water pressure is a little too high, so I have to run away immediately after I flush it so the water doesn't shoot out at me! But you know, I have to get used to all different kinds of toilet experiences. I remember when I was in Tokyo, they had western-style toilets that if you hit a wrong button would shoot a jet of water...um..."upwards."

I think it really says something about the types of people who are here that every time I'm in the bathroom, the squatty is the first one to be occupied! People really want to broaden their horizons and are very open to new (maybe even uncomfortable to a western mind) experiences. 

I've also gone rock climbing! It was only my second time, so I'm not very good at it yet, but it was really fun! I will leave you with a couple of epic pictures that my friend Sara took, to give you the illusion that I am actually an awesome rock climber:

Up on a Mountainside

I've been memorizing the Beatitudes lately, which has been beautiful. As Oswald Chambers said, we must take the Beatitudes seriously. We can't walk away from them thinking, "Oh, what a bunch of nice thoughts." The pure in heart really will see God. In Jesus, all those who mourn will be comforted. Those who hunger for righteousness will be fulfilled (a thought that is echoed in Matthew 6:33). But as we marvel over and contemplate the things Jesus said, it is easy to forget the importance of what he did before he taught a single thing.

He went up on a mountainside.

He got alone with the Father.

Matthew 5 doesn't actually start with "Blessed are...." It starts with Jesus fleeing the crowds so he can be with the Father: "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down." By this point in his ministry, Jesus had swarms of people chasing after him, longing to see more miracles and hear more words of wisdom. Many popular preachers today hunger for these crowds and bask in their approval, but Jesus did not do anything for the approval of man. Not only this, but he realized that he could not keep spending himself and spending himself without taking that quiet time up on a mountainside.

If even Jesus felt that desperate longing to be alone and spend such sweet time with the Father before he taught his disciples, who are we to think we can get by without it?

More importantly, and cutting at the heart issue, why do we want  to get by without it?

Far too often I measure my success and worth by the response of other people to me, not the response of God to me. I, though nothing but dust, spend most of my time seeking the approval of other dust...but all of us will be swept away. The fellowship of God is eternal, and it is more intimate than I could ever know with a person.

I have been learning lately just how precious this intimacy is. I love people, but sometimes I get this feeling that "many words are meaningless" and instead I just want to "stand in awe of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:7). I've found lately that I absolutely cannot love people well and live the day well if I don't allow myself to have this time away with him. It doesn't even have to have a particular purpose; I don't need to be seeking anything; I just want to be with the lover of my soul. Like the disciples, I want to climb the mountainside and find Jesus so we can just spend time with each other, alone, away from the crowds. Away from the calculating eyes of people, and alone with him where my soul can breathe and where he can teach me.

Find your mountainside.