Kill Lorah

01/11/11

Matthew 21

“And so it is, that many who are first
now will be last then; and those who are
last now will be first then.”
Matthew 21:16

Whoever is first will be last and the last will be first. A concept that many people in our society cannot grasp. We live in a society where we are pushed to be at the top. We cannot be at the bottom of the ladder. If we are, we are not successful. So the question is, how do we as followers of Christ, get to the bottom of this ladder? How do we not let society’s voices get into our head?

To be honest, it is not an easy task. I know that mostly everyone knows that, but I am just being honest. It is hard to be at the bottom of the ladder. It is hard to give up what we love the most for those who deserve it the most. It is hard to be the dirt under people’s feet. It is hard especially with everyone else in the world telling us that this is not how it is supposed to be. It is supposed to be the opposite, we are supposed to love worldly possessions and strive to be the person barking out the orders. We are supposed to be the ones trampling over people. Success is power. It is being the strongman. it is being at the top and not caring about those below you. This is what success is in our society.

So what does it look like to be a successful Christian? It does not mean that you can’t be at the top of the ladder. It does not mean that you cannot be successful. It does not mean that you cannot have a lot of money. It is hard for people with these things to be humble at times, but if they can humiliate themselves, they are not doing anything wrong. If they are making the last first and the first last, they are doing what they are supposed to do. If they are not in love with their money and they do not let their positions get to their heads, it is possible. To be last is to be willing. It is to be willing to put yourself below others. It is to be willing to allow others to get the glory.

Real Life LA: Day 6

We spent the morning in Watts at the health clinic. We listened for years (it seemed like years) to a presentation of what the clinic is all about. As Isaac explained to us a little bit about the clinic, I got a bit upset I might say. I got so upset to see how such a big city, one of the biggest, has so few aids to people. They do not have hospitals fit for the actual population. They do not health care that is fit for the majority of their population. In my mind, I am screaming, “fix it!!” However, this world is not fit to fix it. We are fallen, how can we fix it? It sucks so much sometimes, but we just have to go on with it.

Listening to Keith and Virginia’s story (for the second time) was really good to hear. There is nothing that is making me back out yet. I am not ready to give up on my inner city dreams. It is hard sometimes to see so much hopelessness and I think that is what makes me want to come and what makes me want to run away. To hear Keith and Virginia and where they came out of is such a great ting to hear. It really is an encouragement. This is what makes me want to come back. To see the hope restored makes me want to be here. This is what really touches me. This is what really fills up my soul. This is what I want to do. This is what I am called to do.

Following Watts, we headed to the Dream Center. The Dream Center is doing a lot for the community that surrounds them. They are helping many people and really pulling them out of where they were before. We did not get to see those success stories while we were there though. We did not meet anyone who really could testify to that. I have been there before for a service, so I know a bit more than most people know. I have seen a bit more into than others in our group have seen into it. Even so, I still am weary about it. I am still interested in how relational it really is. I do not think that a ministry can be a true ministry without relations. Sure, they can plant seeds and do a lot of good, but there has to be some kind of relationship to make it more than, “Oh I believe in Jesus.” It’s impressive, but I think that it could be a lot more than what it is.

It has been extremely irritating on this trip to listen to people have such a need for Starbucks. I know that I sound like such a jerk, but I am being honest. Today, people constantly whined for some Starbucks and I was thinking, “We are going to Skid Row and all you can think about is Starbucks?” Stupidly enough, I made the wrong comment about it around the wrong person. The thing is though, we don’t need to go onto Skid Row carrying 5 dollar Starbucks drinks. We don’t need them. We have just become so addicted to it that we cannot let it go. there are things out there that are so much more important than Starbucks.

Now that I am done with my rant, we headed to S.A.Y Yes! next and hung out with kids pretty much. I helped a girl named Ti Ti with homework the whole time. She has a bit of an attitude, but it is kind of funny. The other kids in there are a pretty diverse group. They are the type who seem like they would get along in the program, but at school there is no chance that they would talk to each other. It is interesting to see groups like this and to make observations like that.