I work in a school.
I can't believe the amount of "stuff" that is distributed as holiday presents all season long...seriously, it's as if we all went to wal-mart, target, world market and picked out the most random thing possible to give to others. I wonder why we feel so inclined to buy things that others don't really need or want, wrap it in wrapping that we probably can't recycle, and open it as if we've opened the gift of freedom.
Speaking of freedom, for my coworkers this year I decided to "Give the Gift of Freedom." I donated to the work that International Justice Mission is doing in Southeast Asia. Check out IJM at http://www.ijm.org/ I just couldn't bring myself to buy something that they didn't really want and decided instead to support a group that I am passionate about and have oodles of respect and love for. In a book that I am reading, the Good News About Injustice by Gary Haugen, my heart is struck by this verse that is repeated over and over and over again in the writing:
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.
Isaiah 1:17
This tenders my heart in a way that is only possible through the tenderness of the Father. More on this later.
I've also been reading this book, Something Beautiful for God; the book takes a look at the life of Mother Theresa, the work that she done in the eyes of one spectator. It is beautiful. She is beautiful and has been a beacon of kindness, gentleness, tenderness, beauty and humility. This poem, "Anyway" reminds me to not be so concerned with the responses and reactions of others, but to consistently love in action as the Gospels so clearly portray. Here it is,
"Anyway"
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
