kingdom musings?

So I’m sitting here at my desk, and I’ve just read Kirk’s latest blog post, about his recent kingdom connections, and the things God is putting before him, and thoughts are beginning rather suddenly to churn in my head. Around and around, swirling through things that have been inescapable this week, and that are continually developing.

I’m sitting at my desk, nibbling on dried mango, on the third floor of a small building in one of Calgary’s most racially diverse neighborhoods. On the lower floors are Mennonite Central Committee, and a large thrift shop. On one side of our building is a strip club, always occupied with clientele, judging from the parking lot that our staff room window overlooks. On the other a small furniture store.

I’m working for a small insurance company run by Mennonites. Kingdom work in a field that isn’t typically known for such a cause. Our company donates about $100,000 a year to kingdom causes – mostly through organizations like Mennonite Central Committee, focusing on issues of justice, but also on a lower level through needs identified by the churches and policy holders we work with.

I filled out an alumni survey for U of C the other day. I’ve only officially been alumni for six months, and they’re already surveying me! It asked if I’m working in the field I graduated from. I’m not.

I’m working with the results of the field I graduated from. I spent four years studying post-reformation era Europe, focusing primarily on groups like the Anabaptists and Moravians. Groups with a tradition of moving continents to escape persecution, and taking with them Biblical values of justice, peace, and love.

Spreading the kingdom of God in salt and light tiny ways.

As far as I know, my ancestors didn’t come from Europe fleeing religious persecution. They came from Europe like so many others, hoping to create a better life in Canada or in the United States. They came from similar parts of Europe to the Mennonites – Russia, Germany, Ukraine.

But now, I work for this group of people. And they fascinate me. Worrying about prisoners that society has forgotten, and immigrants that Canada, despite her professed “mosaic multi-culturalism” would prefer not to deal with.

They sell fair trade handicrafts from the developing world, supporting children and families, and women and schools. You can buy your family members a goat for Christmas from these people.

They are farmers, and lawyers, and financial planners, and together they are working to bring the kingdom. Some dress very traditionally, with the women in skirts and headcoverings, and some are more modern than I.

I would imagine that it’s somewhat idealistic, but I am caught by the fact that answering phones, sorting mail, emptying a dishwasher, calling office equipment repair people, and making labels are somehow part of kingdom work. That I sit here and pick up phone calls, and because I answer phones, our company, somewhere down the line makes a profit, and the profit is directed towards kingdom causes.

And I wonder at the encounters I have here… the conversations, the friends I’m making, and I’m grateful for the chance to watch the kingdom unfold in this tiny little corner of Calgary.

I am captivated by the idea of justice… and yet, I don’t quite understand…

Quote from Nouwen

Found this quote from Henri Nouwen on the web this morning, and thought I'd pass it on:

“Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives.”
— Henri Nouwen

Bubbling over...and celebrating!

Psalm 9:1-2 (The Message)

I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart,

I'm writing the book on your wonders.

I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;

I'm singing your song, High God.

Today is a special day. It marks one year, depression free. At this time last year, I was getting out of bed, heading to school, and about to have my day hijacked by God. You can't probably imagine how amazing it is to me that it's been a year. The year has been tumultous, filled with crazy happenings, highs, some lows, but nothing could possibly explain the joy that tumbles inside of me as I sit here and think that I have been depression free for an entire year.

I'm going out for dinner tonight with a bunch of friends to celebrate. To celebrate the fact that a year ago today, God stepped into my life in this crazy, overwhelming, completely unexplainable way, and drew me from death into life.

It's been a year since I was begging God to simply let me die, because there was no reason to continue living, no reason to get out of bed in the mornings. A year marked by grace. And I'm so incredibly grateful.

I'm thinking, this morning, and praying for some people I know who are still living in the midst of pain. I'm praying God's freedom, His healing over their lives as well. I hope that everyone I know, experiences at least once, the kind of joy I feel day, and the sensation I felt a year ago of God taking over in completely unexplainable ways.

The passage at the top, and one last one also from Peterson's translation of the Psalms came to mind as I woke this morning.

Psalm 13:5-6 (The Message)

I've thrown myself headlong into your arms -

I'm celebrating your rescue.

I'm singing at the top of my lungs,

I'm so full of answered prayers.

How Many of Me?

Okay, I know it's an American statistic, but I am a US citizen, so I thought I'd give it a go. And apparently I'm unique - who knew?!

Also, statistically, apparently Lisa is the 33rd most common first name in the US, so in that way I guess that I'm not really all that unique!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Creating Space

I wrote long emails to a number of different friends last night, catching them up on some things that have been going on in my life of late, and inviting them to offer insight into a decision I'm in the midst of making.

I told one of them that I've been working to establish a rhythm or discipline in certain areas of my life, and that some days it goes well, and some days it doesn't.

The first area I tackled was creating a rhythm of scripture reading, and 20 days in, it has birthed a surprising result. I'm writing again - seriously, I mean, not the everyday jottings I stick on the blog. There would seem to be a book in the mix...

The whole idea of establishing rhythm and creating space came home to me this morning on the train. I'd tucked Pete Greig's "The Vision and the Vow" into my bag, and was attempting to read it as I travelled. I've been attempting to read this book for a year and a half. I get hung up every time, because it turns serious, and Greig asks you to take time to stop and reflect.

Reflection of a personal and deep nature is not something properly accomplished on public transportation! Every time I've hit this spot, I've tucked the book back into my bag with the intentions of settling down with it and my journal sometime in the next day or two. Did I mention that I've been reading this book off and on for a year and a half, and that I'm still in the first couple of chapters?

So, my next attempt at rhythm is this - to create some white space, reflection time, margin - whatever term you want to use, at least once a week in my life.

Oh, and to start running or something, cause my body is not making me happy these days!

We'll see how it goes!