Author: Caroline

When I'm not riding in the backseat of my Grandpa's restored vintage car "Mable," I'm doing other things like... rising to most adventure occasions my husband proposes / chasing our toddler around Brooklyn / enjoying neighbors, strangers, and friends / making countless trips to the laundromat / writing for various publications and for personal reflection / loving and serving our local church / cleaning the bathroom / hosting small and big crowds in our home / meeting up with a friend for coffee / thinking Vocation is my strange frenemy. Though I have worked and existed in many stations/places, I am convinced that each day has good work to be done and that I am equipped and prepared to do that good work. This blog explores the tension and the intersection of a constant vocational call - to good work, neighbor love, and living in the kingdom come. My favorite things are coffee and creating and laughing (preferably with company). I love to listen to sermons and read biographies and make tea before going to bed.

social JUSTICE activist

I just finished reading the Boundless article called, “Intruder Alert.” It’s not exactly a light topic to read over my short lunch break, but the jumbled argument for abortion sounded so much like conversations I’ve had lately about relativism, perspective, and rights.


Social justice is a buzz word. You’ve probably heard it, had conversations about it, maybe you’ve even been fired up about an issue or two. You are not the minority, it seems. You and everyone else are frustrated with the way things are.

If you ask a fellow frustrated trailblazer why s/he is passionate, one might say, “I believe we have the potential to make things better in this world. I really think that we can see positive change.” The level of intellect varies, but the popular opinion of activists is that they feel called to take some action.

Hmmm. This conversation recently got me thinking. … about definitions. My high school English teacher Mrs. Brown (though she might be horrified at my abuse of grammar) would be glad to see rhetoric forced to its definitions. Because, you see, in the words of my dear chaplain Trygve Johnson, “Words create realities.” If we live in a world created by vague rhetoric, the reality is just as muddled. Empowering phrases of social change easily draw a crowd, but one has to ask what lies underneath.

JUSTICE
What is justice? Dictionary.com writes,

1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice.
3. the moral principle determining just conduct.

So, I guess we define just as something right and good. I guess that would also mean that we’ve defined (by default) something as wrong and bad to say that it needs to be changed. I wonder if social justice activists see the world this way – that there are wrong things that need changing to become right.

CHANGE
Why do we need change?
Change doesn’t have to be from something good to bad or from bad to good. Change can be from something to something different. This is the perspective I met in my conversation. This person held the belief that social change doesn’t define actions as wrong, but merely suggests something different. Okay, I said. What need is there for something different? How do we determine what needs to be different and what needs to stay the same?

RESPONSIBILITY
If said social activists believe they are fighting for the rights of humans around the world, what is the motive? After my conversation today, my friend suggested that maybe life is absent of truth (its only perceived by individuals, through unique lenses) and all we are left with is cold, hard responsibility.

Another interesting thought. I guess then I ask – why are we responsible? What motivation do we have for doing anything good? Why not just be responsible for ourselves? I can determine my own absolute to allow all my vices, chide myself every once in awhile to make sure I have drawn the line somewhere, and live without worrying about the burdens of others.

I’M a social JUSTICE activist
The absurd thing… the ironical thing… is that I am a social JUSTICE activist. You see, I believe in justice by its definition. I believe that there are things I have done in my life that are wrong. I believe that I have done things in my life that are right (though precious few).

I believe genocide is wrong. I believe abuse is wrong. I believe child slavery is wrong. I believe the treatment of the beautiful Dalit people in India is wrong.

I believe that caring for the orphan and widow is right. I believe that loving one’s neighbor is right. I believe that providing for basic human needs is right. I believe that my sponsored Compassion child Dinesh in India receiving education is right.

I am a social JUSTICE activist because I believe that is right as well. How do I know these things to be true – am I so presumptuous to think I have the answers? Absolutely not. I will never know why God poured out His grace. I will never know why He sent His one and only Son to redeem the INJUSTICE – everything wrong in the world past, present, and future. God sent His Son Jesus to be the ultimate social JUSTICE activist – that He would define Truth absolutely because He was Truth.

How else can we fight for change?

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grandfather’s wisdom


“What decision can I make today that could draw me closer to God?” He asked. “If you think about that and have that in your head all day long, then you are bound to make some good decisions.”

Wow. My grandpa Joe is a pretty amazing man. Tonight we talked about how hard it is to make decisions that really please the Lord. Sometimes we know God is calling us to do something – to obey Him – but we’re unwilling to step out in faith. I ventured to say that our human condition thrives in the ‘comfortable’ … but he said, “You know, the thing is that comfortable is boring.”

How true that is! We are discouraged from boldness in word and deed in declaring the Lord’s glory. Uncomfortable usually brings about what is most beneficial.

Oh! These thoughts could just go on, but the morning comes too soon and I must greet it as my grandpa will. … and we’ll be bound to make some good decisions.

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a new tune

So I’ve been humming this new tune… I actually can’t get it out of my mind. Last night at junior high youth group, we taught the 6th graders a books of the Bible song. It was one I found on Youtube of all places, but it’s catchy. Now, before you think I’m pressuring these young ladies to memorize more things (on top of their already rigorous expectations), the girls actually asked for it.

I had shared that I learned a rap for the books of the Bible growing up and still remember it. In fact, I remember and cherish all the verses I learned as part of the AWANA program growing up. (I recently decided that AWANA, or something like it, would definitely have to be a part of my kids’ lives – it was amazing!) The girls looked at me and said, could you teach it to us?

It’s so amazing when you see how simple things are – that we do truly want to know the heart of God – that the Holy Spirit stirs within us to treasure up Truths in our hearts.

Not that memorizing the books of the Bible is an end in any sort of way, but I am so encouraged that it can be a beginning. Take a peek – and see if you don’t start humming a new tune!

http://www.youtube.com/v/caq1KlAsfOw&hl=en

This – such a small thing – brought laughter and community into our group last night. What a blessing to see how “hiding God’s word in our hearts” will produce much fruit. … even in the way the world looks when we wake up the next morning.

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testimony

Last night I shared my testimony.

I shared with my bible study girls on Monday that I was a little nervous, to which one responded, “Oh! Just don’t be.”
I came up with some sarcastic reply at the moment, but it was actually a great suggestion!

The more I thought about “my story” the more I realized how much I’ve made things about me. Just ask my family – I could talk for hours! The strange part is that my heart seeks to serve with humility… to love with abandon… to give without limits. It’s just this flesh that gets in the way.

So, I stood up in front of the community that has been so, so precious to me this year and shared the glory of the Lord, as revealed in my life. I shared a story from this past weekend, when I was in church with my family. We were all having a hard time staying awake, but at the end of the service the pastor had everyone walk up to the front and receive an anointing of oil. Then the whole church gathered in a circle (it was a small gathering) and held hands and sang a song of redemption. During the song, we lifted up our hands in praise and the tears were streaming down my face. I was overwhelmed.

The glory of the cross. Jesus – crucified, dead, and buried – ROSE again for the redemption of our souls to the glory of God.

May I, like Paul, resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified!

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why bus drivers are safe

I was talking to a friend the other day and we somehow got around to city transportation. It was probably because I have a sweet spot in my heart for mass transit. I didn’t realize it until I moved to Chicago last year, but the conversations and relationships I made on those buses and subways are stories to share!

So, we were on the subject of transportation and I was lamenting Austin’s poor system. I’m convinced they just don’t want to think like a big city, though the people keep piling up. My friend said she observed that most bus drivers are creepily friendly.

I thought for a moment and then said, “That’s funny. I always find myself making friends with bus drivers. Maybe it’s because they are hardly intimidating – strapped to their seat and all.”

Seriously, the bus driver is most knowledgeable about the city and they can’t move! It’s like the least intimidating and threatening kind of city-dweller there could be. Anyway, I thought that was funny.

Song to listen to: Bus Driver by Caedmon’s Call

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michigan for easter

I hopped on a plane today, flew to Chicago, jumped on the blue line to downtown and rushed across the loop to catch the 3:58 south shoreline train to michigan city, where my dear friend and mentor picked me up. Whew!

We dined in a little town called Fennville at an adorable cafe/pub and finally made our way to Holland around 9:30 pm. What a day!

It’s so exciting to be back up north – where I’ve made so many memories. This weekend will be a welcome thrill – precious time with family and friends.

On the way here, I spent most of the airport/plane time captured again by Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Prince Myshkin. I find myself often and even wondering as he might at ironical or strange situations. Not strange in a conventional way ( if that is possible) but strange because something strikes conviction’s chord. Something in me responds aghast at a person’s (or my own) tendency to do wrong.

One thing I do love is the style of writing and conversation. The first time I read, “…we fell into talk,” I knew instantly I would adopt the phrase. So, this weekend, I have many and great plans to “fall into talk” with loved ones here.

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the small things

Today, after several meetings and several hours working at the computer, I walked out into the bold, Southern sun. What a joy to see Spring leap so decidedly and quickly. There is no hesitation about it.

Tonight I sat with eight of the most wonderful sixth grade girls in all of Austin. We read the account of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. My, what minds they have! I danced inside, as David did, as I listened to their wisdom and insight. Prince Myshkin (from Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot”) is deeply convinced that much is lost when children are not invited into the conversation and I wholeheartedly agree!

“Why did the people choose the killer Barabbas instead of Jesus who was perfect,” they asked. The group pondered and decided that the crowd was jealous, suspicious, and misunderstanding of who Jesus was.

Hmm. It’s foolish to not see the similarities today. Those who are positively convinced that Jesus is a farce, Christianity a crutch. We have missed the message; we have misunderstood what is salvation. At exactly no cost we are offered grace, provision, and LIFE.

What a story to tell!

And the small things, like the hope in these 11-year-old eyes, are more than amazing.

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