Loving Justice more than being just...
I've started a new Bible Reading Plan - just a 7 day one to start with - with Bible.com. There are questions for each day and I don't want to lose the answers - my trusty LJ seemed a good place to record them! If I make this a regular practice, though, I'll move this stuff to Brighid71.
How have I been loving the idea of changing the world more than living it out? What motivations have I noticed inside myself that show this unwillingness to live out justice and compassion?
A couple of very recent examples. A week or so ago, I saw a young man at the entrance to Lime Street Station leaning against the wall. His skin was pale - almost waxy - and his eyes were closed. As I went inside, I was looking out for someone in authority that I could point him out to. Recently, there always seem to be police officers hanging around Lime Street, so I thought I'd ask one of them to help. But that day there were none! There were a couple of staff but something about them made me keep walking. And I kept walking - I didn't even 'phone an ambulance. I acknowledged to myself that I was being the Levite or the Priest from the story of the Good Samaritan - but that self-honesty didn't help that young man did it? Since then, I have been noticing street people with more clarity but still not approaching them, still not getting involved. Part of me feels that recognising them as people rather than just walking past is something but I'm not falling into any traps of self congratulations! I'm also partly blaming the husband and son who would think it was madness to approach them and would throw scorn on my actions, not praise.
The second is that the freecycle table needs work and yesterday I just couldn't face it. But that one I can do something about, make a plan of action, get it in the notices, get organised!
How have I been loving the idea of changing the world more than living it out? What motivations have I noticed inside myself that show this unwillingness to live out justice and compassion?
A couple of very recent examples. A week or so ago, I saw a young man at the entrance to Lime Street Station leaning against the wall. His skin was pale - almost waxy - and his eyes were closed. As I went inside, I was looking out for someone in authority that I could point him out to. Recently, there always seem to be police officers hanging around Lime Street, so I thought I'd ask one of them to help. But that day there were none! There were a couple of staff but something about them made me keep walking. And I kept walking - I didn't even 'phone an ambulance. I acknowledged to myself that I was being the Levite or the Priest from the story of the Good Samaritan - but that self-honesty didn't help that young man did it? Since then, I have been noticing street people with more clarity but still not approaching them, still not getting involved. Part of me feels that recognising them as people rather than just walking past is something but I'm not falling into any traps of self congratulations! I'm also partly blaming the husband and son who would think it was madness to approach them and would throw scorn on my actions, not praise.
The second is that the freecycle table needs work and yesterday I just couldn't face it. But that one I can do something about, make a plan of action, get it in the notices, get organised!