Late to Class
A short while back, Claudia forwarded on to me a brief video. Award winning and in a language I don't know, the short captured my heart. I've watched it more than a couple of times. If you will, watch it yourself before you read on. It runs for 4 minutes.
Wow. This is like the parable or illustration that is common and simple on the surface, but so very deep when pondered. My heart floods with thoughts that may be like yours, or quite different. Thoughts like...
How often have I been like the teacher?
What stories stand behind the behaviors I encounter?
Is there any way to grow in understanding and compassion?
How do I respond when my actions are misread?
...and many more
In our ever more coarse world, patience to understand and compassion toward others seems more rare all the time. I often forget to remember that every person I meet lives in the midst of their unfinished story, just like me. That doesn't excuse misbehavior and its consequences, but it might nudge me to pump the brakes on my instant negative reactions. I have a frame of reference and a set of expectations which govern most of my responses to my day, and just like the teacher in the short, I can easily draw a wrong conclusion when I don't at least try to understand what drives the behaviors I find offensive.
This can be difficult, certainly impractical, out in the general public. There is rarely time to tell stories and listen well as we go about our business. But a classroom is a community and the teacher in the video missed the connection until he got it. Community exists all around us; like in a neighborhood, or your work, or a church, or a park and rec team, or a bunko group. Community groups sharpen and encourage and frustrate and help one another carry loads.
Paul, when writing to the young church in Ephesus, invested much of his letter getting them to understand a bit more what a community of Jesus followers looked and acted like in their world. It is worth the time to read again Eph. 4:1 - 5:21 where it seems Paul pulls back the curtain on what this life in community might look like if we took it seriously. It's all good, but one verse, 4:32, stopped me to think a bit more.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you. Be imitators of God....
There's a whole lot packed into these words. If we work back from the end, we are called to imitate in our daily life what was done to and for us. We showcase the best we can be when we weave into all our interactions kindness and compassion. Let's take a moment and let these two terms breathe a bit.
Kindness brings to mind types of behaviors marked by acts of generosity, consideration, or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward. Aesop is to have said, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." While Jackie Chan adds, "Sometimes it only takes one act of kindness and caring to change a person's life."
Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” It can be understood as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. The artist Prince said, "Compassion is an action word with no boundaries."
Rereading the above descriptions sounds like Paul is calling us to behave in ways quite counter to our culture. Even more so when he piles on with "forgiving each other just as in Christ God has forgiven you." Where is the righteous anger toward folks who cross us? Where is our getting our pound of flesh? Apparently, If we are to imitate God, that has to be dropped off at the curb with the rest of the trash. Just like what was done for us through Christ's loving actions.
OK, honestly, I run hot and cold on the whole kindness, compassion and forgiveness thing. But, I keep at it because that's what I'm called to be doing. And so are you. If we buy in with following Jesus, this is how we live it out...it's a non-optional part of the package. So, friends, let's this week pray for a sense of compassion and to act on opportunities to be kind and forgiving when someone comes in late to class...again. That's a tall order but worth dipping your toes in the water. You and I might just discover this is who we are meant to be.
Now, some music for the week...
...and a funny from Jerry for the road
A man spoke to each of his 3 sons when he sent
them to college. "I feel it's my duty to provide you
with the best possible education, and you do not
owe me anything for that.
However, I want you to appreciate it. As a gesture
of appreciation, please each put $1,000 into my
coffin when I die."
And so it happened. His sons became a doctor,
a financial planner and, a lawyer, each successful
financially. When their father died and they saw
him in the coffin, they remembered his wish.
First, the doctor stacked 10 crisp $100 bills onto
the chest of the deceased. Next, the financial
planner placed $1,000 there in 20 crisp $50 bills.
Finally, it was Ralphie, the heartbroken lawyer's
turn. He slowly reached into his pocket, removed
his checkbook, wrote a check for $3,000, put it
into his father's coffin, and took the $2,000 cash.
The lawyer is now in Congress, probably from your district.