We are told to “be in the world but not of the world.” True, some are called to withdraw from society to be able to live a life totally dedicated to God. For most of us, though, the call is to stay in our same communities, jobs, social and political activities and live a life totally dedicated to God in these “worldly” places. To reveal the presence of Jesus into places where he might not otherwise be recognized.
Though I live on the “mission field,” the truth is that for what most people is “the ends of the earth” has become my “Jerusalem”--my ordinary life, my regular neighborhood. So, while being a missionary might sound exotic or even romantic, and my “world” might look very different from what it was in the past, the challenge remains the same. To live in this world but not be attached to it.
I have tried many ways to do this, some more successful than others. Today I realized there is a simple answer: to “seek first the kingdom of God” and trust him to take care of everything else. To be transformed by the RENEWING of my mind by God's Word and his Spirit. To realize I don't have it all together, and don't have all the answers, and continually (renewing is an active verb) be looking to him to enlighten me--open the eyes of my heart to the truth.
This leads me to live life from a different paradigm—one in which everything is measured by it’s “eternal merit”(a lesson taught to me by one of my favorite pastors). Where every action s evaluated by it's ability to further the Kingdom of God here on earth. It is a life viewed, through a different lens in which everything is filtered through the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Love.
True, God is much more than just love—he is justice and truth. Too often I try to step in for God and exercise his justice for him, or make others believe the truth as I see it. (God is absolute truth. I am aware, though, how often my understanding of His truth is flawed.) I speak boldly and with conviction, but I do so far outside of the Spirit of Love. Often it is from fear, frustration or even anger, being disgusted with the way things are going or what others are doing.
Any time, however, I step out of love in speaking the truth, I am of the world. Any time I try to exercise God’s justice for him (he can do it very well himself, thank you) and take matters into my own hands to try to make people do what I believe is righteous, I am of the world. Just like Eve in the garden, or Abraham with Hagar, I am telling God that he is not enough, doing enough, or doing it fast enough.
This does not mean I adopt a passive stance toward life. I am still involved in the world—I am in the world. I show up, am present, in the social, moral, political and familial events of the world. I am involved in the culture and society in which I live, trying to reveal Jesus’ presence, often in the most difficult and ugly places. But I am detached from the outcome. I leave this in the hands of my Father, who does not call me to be successful, but only to be faithful (Thomas Merton).
God is present in each moment of our lives, even the most sinful and most difficult. The problem is that we often fail to recognize him, and seldom respond in a way which acknowledges his presence. I want to change this in my life. I will seek first the Kingdom of God, live as a resident of this kingdom, and leave the rest to Him.
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