Filling the void

It is sad to sometimes feel that I have to “sell” a worthy cause of loving others and to recognize your neighbors. I think that many of the people that look at the extremist lovers think we are only about inner city poor, and think we are glamorous rock stars fighting for a worthy cause. I wish the latter part would be true just because I feel like some would begin to really listen, but we aren’t. Most of us are just people who are tired of saying, tired of the same old thing, and tired of people not being able to live life of joy and hope.

I am in search of trying to figure out how to pass on the redemption of Christ, that sets us free from condemnation, and the worry of today. Everyone needs to hear about the love God has for us in the Old and New Testament. A life of regulation, compassion, justice, acceptance, and love. I have been called to the scary places where there is a lot of violence, but I know there is worse. I know that sometimes suburbia terrifies me sometimes, but they have just as many issues as inner city poor. The system is broken all over the place, and most of us “ordinary radicals” just want to help people feel empowered to chase God’s heart, to drop everything and follow Him. Where you’re passion meets God’s calling in your life is what you are supposed to figure out. Many of us are asleep to awaking to the riches of God’s glory because it is daunting to take a leap into unpredictability in chasing after God’s heart.

It all starts with baby steps, but you have got to move! Go serve someone. Go! Spend time outside of the walls you are confined in most of the day and meet people. These are your neighbors. Go expose yourself to others, share your life with people you do not know. Buy them coffee, bring them cookies, just say hi and find out what they do.

Everyone is dying for community, meaning, and purpose. They just need to be shown the way. Are you going to invite them in? That requires you talking to them. Everyone is talking about the effects of the information age, and saying that we are more connected than ever. Are we really, divorce rates have increased, there is a lot of miscommunication, there is a lot more relationships to manage. There is still the same amount of time in a day, and more relationships to deal with. How thin are you going to spread out? Are you neglecting your immediate neighbors?

Where ever you are, live a life filled with Christ bringing the hope of glory to your neighbors around you. Jesus never gathered the masses, but he met them outside the walls and on other peoples property.