On Bringing Heaven to Earth

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
~Mother Teresa

I recently met someone who had just returned from a trip she had taken to a 3rd world country. Listening to her share about her journey it was clear that she had not enjoyed the experience. I wondered why and so I asked her. Rolling her eyes, she waved her finely manicured hand in my face, “Well, for starters, there were too many poor people. That made me feel bad and I don’t like feeling bad….”

“Oh” was my quiet response.

Two minutes later – in the same room – I overheard another discussion taking place. This time it was a young man talking about his involvement with an organization that helped feed people that lived in countries battling famine. His view, however, was very different from the one I had just heard. With fire in his eyes, he spoke with passion and conviction, “I may not be able to feed the world but my involvement means everything to the one that I am able to help…”

These two people saw the same thing – poverty - but yet they walked away with completely opposite interpretations. One observed unlimited opportunity, the other viewed paralyzing awkwardness.

The world we live in bombards us with constant communication. With a click of a button, I can hear about war, I can see hunger and yet it is still possible to walk away and feel nothing at all.

Why is that?

For many years, I lived in a neighbourhood where it wasn’t uncommon to find people with shopping carts riffling through your back garbage bin. Often, on my way to work, I’d see people sitting on the sidewalk - begging for bread. My response to this was usually to walk a little faster, avoid the unblinking glare of their eyes while repeating to myself, “Please don’t ask me for money…”

If the brokenness in my back yard isn’t breaking my heart – I have to ask myself, “What is wrong with my heart?” Watching the life of Jesus I can see no example where he lived a life closed from the deep needs of the people that surrounded him. So where did my walls come from?

Matthew 25 talks about the parable of the talents. The story is about a Master who gives an allotment of his money to 3 of his servants. Time passes and eventually the Master checks up on his servants to see how each has used the possessions he entrusted them with.

The first 2 servants had used the money in creative ways and as a result their money had been multiplied! But the last servant hid his money. He had no more and no less to show his Master for what he had been given.

This made the Master was very angry. Why? Was it because the servant had not multiplied the money he had been given? No. I believe it was because he had not used the little bit that he had.

I believe that God is calling each of us to a new level of radical generosity. Generosity that is not given based on what we receive in return but instead on what we have been given. I may not ever solve the world’s problems but that fact won’t stop me from sharing a cup of coffee with someone that needs a listening ear. As these moments and others are embraced around us, I am convinced God’s purposes will be fulfilled on the earth. I want to be a part of that. What about you?

Visit Ruth at: “it’s true”, sighed roo.