love.

I’ve been thinking a lot about grace and love lately; wondering how better to tear down walls and build bridges with our partners, groups and people of Houston. Stephen Sciolino says, “Love in its purest form is the most powerful weapon we have against hatred, indifference, prejudice, misunderstanding and divisiveness. The more we genuinely love, the more we understand that this commandment is life altering for everyone involved. Just as water rushing against hardened stone eventually erodes the stone, so love in action breaks down all barriers between people. It’s a commandment which works miracles And brings the Kingdom of God closer to reality.”

Beautiful isn’t it? This summer I have seen pure love in action. I got the opportunity to sit and eat lunch at this great little Cajun place with a middle school group this summer. In talking with one of the boys on the trip, I asked him how God had surprised him during the week. He responded by saying, “Well, I was surprised to find out that homeless people are just like me. And so are the kids that we’ve been working with. They’re all just kids and we all need love. So I’ve tried to love them while they’ve been loving me.” All this from a brilliant 13-year-old from Tomball, Tx. He’s right and so is Sciolino. The love of Christ is rich and free, says an old hymn, and I have seen that love displayed in the smallest of actions that made the biggest impact. Painting with college students, playing speed scrabble with my hosts, and in Paul being a great listener. I have seen love transcend boundaries in my new neighbor giving us some homemade pear preserves. Love bound up the brokenhearted when one of our groups offered up a simple, but genuine note of thanks to one of our partners who was tired and burned out.

In the light of Love, we are carried to the feet of Jesus and filled to overflow. I think each day I learn more about love, grace and sacrifice than ever before. As many of you know, I recently began a new adventure living in community in an economically depressed neighborhood in Houston called Third Ward. Community living has already opened my eyes to seeking grace and humility and I’m constantly figuring out what this pure love looks like. It's a daily process, and it is with both joy and struggle that I surrender. I'm learning that commitment takes a lot more commitment than I thought. But something else I've learned in my journey to community is that I am capable of walking through hard things. They're hard, but the beauty that blossoms out of them is worth it.

That's all for now.

reflection

This morning I sit from my new in-home office. My house mates and I moved into our new home two weeks ago, and we are down to two unpacked boxes! We rejoice in the little things. Paul and I have sent our summer staff back to their respective homes, jobs and schools, and are in the sweet slower rhythm of late August. This summer has brought significant challenge for me as a leader, as a sister and daughter and also just as a child of Jesus. But throughout, I tried to journal through some of those experiences, and that is what I bring you today. Just some thoughts from my summer and a little bit of what Christ has shown me lately….

June 14 - Yesterday was my first day off in two weeks. We’ve been training our new summer staff – Israel, Cameron, Courtney, Crystal and Kelsey – and each day has been full, preparing the staff and completing summer scheduling. But yesterday, I basked in the glory of a day with no cell phone, no computer and little communication with anyone but Christ.

I began the day by opening up the book Ruthless Trust written by Brennan Manning. Normally, I must confess, I don’t anticipate reading such books for long periods of time. Mostly because it’s a lot to process at once. But there I sat, in the morning sunshine, reading truth after truth after truth about who I am, and how trustworthy is the One who made me. As the sun shone through the wavy glass window above my head, all I could think of was the face of Christ beaming; smiling graciously at His daughter, filling me up.

In reading yesterday, I was reminded of the importance of gratitude, and seeing Grace in all the little things that carry us from day to day. So I’d like to count for you, some of the blessings poured out over CSM Houston and I over the past few months. As you read, offer Praise to our King for these ordinary and remarkable wonders.

Today I am thankful for the sun. I love the way it seeps into the pours on my face and lightens the day. I’m thankful for Paul and his leadership, encouragement and grace. He constantly reminds the staff and I that all of the glory for what happens in the city goes to Christ. I’m thankful for Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church and how welcoming they have been to our groups. The men and women who attend there are the salt of the earth and many don’t even know it. Gratitude fills my heart for my brothers and sisters who are rallying together to seek Justice for those held in oppression and manipulation in our city. I am thankful for youth who are unafraid; they remind me of how to be bold and courageous. I’m grateful for summer rain, falling on the earth restoring dry places. I feel so pursued by the Lord when it rains…I am so thankful for the faithfulness of groups who we have partnered with for years – it is beautiful how they see that no matter how many times they come back, their experience is different and made anew because Jesus is always here, always moving. I am thankful for community and the commitments my sisters and I have made to serve, love and live amongst the poor in Houston. I’m thankful for volleyball at the park, dining with my friends who are homeless and weeping with frustration that they still are when they don’t want to be. Community gardens, children exposed to musical worship, Street Reach and art therapy. Cloudless days, stormy nights, neighbors and fresh salsa, coffee and prayer, walking to church and connecting with our ministry partners. Balance between love and truth. There are countless things that fill my life with richness and texture, and in each of them there lies hope in Christ. Even in the darkest of moments when brokenness is all around, Jesus remains – and He is redeeming, restoring and renewing His creation. Thank God.