Worldly Holiness

“According to Jesus, there is no authentic Christianity, discipleship or Christian ethics apart from doing the deeds he taught his followers to do….” - Glen Stassen

“Life naturally provides those moments and occasions of unintentional contemplation, times when the foundations of life seem swept away and we are left with the need to see life from a different perspective. - Parker Palmer

Recently I had the chance to help with a project building a home in North Africa in a region that was struck by an earthquake a few years ago. Many in the host community lost their lives and the survivors are struggling to put the pieces back together as they put a new roof over their heads, hopefully a home that will better withstand a future quake. I volunteered with a non-profit that is rebuilding communities, house by house, making an impact on lives and families and helping the local economy by employing local tradesman for various aspects of the building projects.

It was our job to dig ditches for the foundation of a new home. Not a large home but one that makes sense for the region and fits the lifestyle of a small family. As we worked harder than I’ve worked for a long time, family members dug alongside us investing sweat equity and pride in the building of their own home. They also provided food and wonderful, sweet mint tea during breaks. The weather was intense for a guy from the Northwest and the topography did not easily yield to our intentions to dig ditches. But we made headway. A particular feature that slowed our work were the veins of rock that decided to hide themselves under the veneer of normal dirt where we drew our lines for a hole or trench. The rocks probably saw us coming and wagered on which of these white guys could break them down. Ha.

I pounded on one such rock for the better part of 30 minutes one morning. After me, another guy on our team spent yet more time on the same stone. Thought I had loosened it for him. Apparently not. One of the local workers finally came to our rescue. He got into the same hole we were in for 45+ minutes with a pick. He taped in several places, found a weak spot, pried with the point of the pick, tapped a bit more. In less than 10 minutes he dislodged a huge rock to our shame and chagrin. But were we glad. We also knew who knew what they were doing right then.

I don’t want to over spiritualize this little story but the parallels are striking. Sometimes in my inner life I try to remove the rocks myself, with brute force of will or determination. These are good qualities for some tasks in my life but generally not the inner life. The best way to become conformed to the image of God is to yield, to trust the Holy Spirit to apply his gentle hand at the inner surgery that is sometimes needed in my heart. That is not a passive, static posture. I still need to get in the ditch to uncover the rocks and use the tools given by God. But ultimately it is a work of the Holy Spirit.

The guy who unearthed the rock at our project site has a nickname. They call him “rock whisper.” I kind of like that idea when I think of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

“The things that come out of a man are they that defile him, and to get out of them a man must go into himself, be a convict, and scrub the floor of his cell.” - George MacDonald

Home Demolition in the West Bank, originally uploaded by papalars.

I’ve been torn recently by two conflicting, but related, realities in my heart. Many of you know that Carol and I are trying to buy a house. The market is good for buyers and interest rates low so that is bringing this aspiration closer to a reality. A year ago that would have been a long stretch, perhaps impossible. Pray for us. We want to have an adequate place for friends, family and ministry. It is about making a home, having a place we call our own. A basic need, right?

There’s another story that is rattling around in my head these days. It makes me conflicted. Last week, I heard a young Palestinian women at a chapel service share the heartbreaking story of what is happening to many of her friends in Palestine. Home demolitions are still commonplace in the West Bank, most often happening to Palestinians, to make room for new Israeli settlements. An alarming fact struck me in her talk. A full 80% of Palestinians have lost land in recent years. Furthermore, the huge wall, standing 26 feet high which has been built “for protection,” often separates family members, farmers from their land and makes normal day-to-day life very difficult. Many Palestinians are not given legal citizenship and if they leave the area, then need a visa to return. For many, they are not a legal citizen anywhere but just resident aliens. These stories resembled the ones I heard last fall when I was at a leadership conference in Palestine. I know some of these people. Their stories break my heart. I know the issues are complex and they resist simple solutions. It just seems wrong. I was encouraged to hear that some Israeli soldiers are being jailed for refusing to be involved in home demolitions and forceful takeover of land in the Palestinian Territories. A new word has been coined to identify these courageous contrarians–they are called Refusniks. [click the link for more information].

If you want to know more about the situation check out this website: Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.

My last thought in this vein brings the issue of homes full circle. I just plopped some good money down on an airplane ticket to North Africa this summer where I will be joining a team building homes for a community struck by a recent earthquake. I’m reminded of the Psalmist who identifies the importance of shelter. I don’t think David was just speaking metaphorically.

“For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5