You know when you buy a plant in a pot from a garden centre? You take it home, choose a spot to plant, and dig a hole, slightly larger than the size of the pot. You tip the plant and its soil in and fill in around it. But there's never enough earth to completely fill it.
How can that be? You've taken out the equivalent amount and you've put extra in with the plant so where does the missing soil go?
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At our Zac's tribal gathering on the beach yesterday it got to five minutes to eight and it was still only Marcus and me there. I was just looking forward to getting home early when stragglers arrived and kept arriving until we were up to fifteen, the highest number we've had for a while.
When I child-sat for my 11-year-old GrandSon3 last week he read to me from his children's bible, part of the story of Elijah. The story resonated with me and I reflected on it last night in our gathering. It amazed me how relevant an Old Testament story was to modern day life.
The bit I chatted about began just after Elijah had done a ‘My God is better than your gods’ battle
with the prophets of Baal, and had won. I bet that made him feel good. But that
feeling doesn’t last long. Next thing he hears that evil Queen Jezebel has vowed to kill
him, so he runs away, hides under a bush in the wilderness, and wants to die.
He thinks he has defeated evil only for it too rise up again
instantly. “What’s the point?” he says. “Nothing I can do makes any difference;
I might as well be dead.”
I and, I would think, most of us can empathise with him – though maybe not going as far as wishing to be dead. When we see so much evil in the world, especially when it’s disguised and embraced by the many, it's tempting to say, “What can I do that will make any difference?”
I think God’s practical response to Elijah is good advice to all of us
when we’re down or feeling like giving up. He sends an angel to feed him. Things often seem better after a good night’s sleep and food – especially
freshly cooked bread, mmm.
God then tells Elijah to go back and carry on, but to seek out
Elisha, who will support and help him, and eventually take over when the time
is right. And he reassures Elijah that he's not alone, there are others like him. We all need someone we can turn to, someone we can trust. God puts us
in community for a reason.
On our own we can do our bit. With others we can effect change - sometimes.
I think of Boud here who is very active, definitely doing her bit, and inspired by her, even I've started pinging emails off to my MP and the Prime Minister when I want to challenge a policy or statement. I don't know if it makes any difference but I'm doing something. And all those marchers last weekend in the USA, doing their bit becomes bigger when it's done in community.
“Hate has talked so loudly for so long. Greed has talked so loudly for so long. Liars have talked so loudly for so long. Love has got to stop whispering.”
It's time to start shouting love.
4 comments:
Yes, there's no doubt about it. An activist must be prepared to play the long game. You can't expect a direct positive result from each action you take, that's not how it works.
People have different strengths, but we can all shout love.
Thanks for the shoutout. I believe in the multiplier effect. One person inspires more. But you have to believe that will happen. I think resistance is love at full volume, love for justice!
I also think you'll find the missing earth in company with the single socks.
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