Jesus Wrecked My Life

So, I just got done reading an article in Relevant magazine with the above title. (I have copies at Journey if you'd like to give it a read.) It was pretty shaking as I read Shane Claiborne's account of the change that Jesus made in his life. It's an upside down account which makes sense in light of Jesus' message being an upside down gospel. He talks about how they took action instead of talking. He talks about how he wanted to live like a Christian instead of talking or learning about Christianity. He went to Calcutta to see Mother Theresa. He discovered God's love on the streets of Philly. It's an amazing story. Here's one quote:

"...We are about ending poverty, not simply managing it. We give people fish. We teach them to fish. We tear down the walls that have been built up around the fish pond. And we figure out who polluted it."

What a great picture. What a great image of the life of living Jesus' mission. What is Jessus meant the stuff he said? What if we meant it when we said we're following Jesus? What if? I think that's why so many people disregard Christianity...because so few people live it. I know I don't to the degree that would truly represent Jesus in a halfway decent way. I don't know too many people who take the message seriously. What if Jesus really meant it? I think he did. Now what?

Recent accident

Wow. News of the bus crash in Atlanta has rocked our area. Ryan and I went down to the university to help in whatever way we could. Many appeared to being dealing with this alright, but that was before the release of any names. I assume that grief will incresase as the details continue to be released.

The question that obviously comes to mind with this is, "why?" We know the why related to the mechanics of the accident as told to us from CNN. But our innate spiritual or philosophical side asks the question of why them, why now, why ever...I don't believe that there's an answer to that question. I don't know that God is looking for us to be able to answer that question. Of course we want him to answer it to our own satisfaction. Not gonna happen. We may never have an answer. The only thing(s) I know for sure is that God didn't cause this. He didn't want it to happen. He knows it sucks. And it's okay to tell him that it does. He wants us to know that He cries along side us. He wants us to know that He believes in the importance of life, however short or long it may be. He wants us to know that he'll take care of our loved ones for us. He wants us to know that we can grieve in whatever way we need to and it's okay. He wants us to know that He's still here...and always will be.

At this point...that's all I know.