Impact!

The day ahead would hold many meetings and being indoors on such a lovely Spring day in Riga. Sunny days are often rare, although this Spring has proven to be filled with many of them. When the sun shines, everyone wants to be outdoors, myself included.

Whilst waiting for some of the staff to come for staff development training, I peered out my window with a slight sense of grief at my plight of being indoors. Then I noticed a man, seemingly homeless, lying face down on the corner. Blood was coming from his head, and he was convulsing. Before I could turn to get ready to go out and help him, I noticed a business man crossing the street. He passed the man, put down his briefcase next to the building, then turned to help him. As another man crossed the street, he joined the business man in helping him. Gently bringing the injured man away to a grassy area, one looked after the him, while one rang for the ambulance. They stayed with him until help would arrive. My response to this sight was overwhelming joy. 'Good Samaritans' were in our midst! It left me feeling inspired and filled with hope that things, indeed, are changing.

You see, Maskvas Forštate, known in slang terms as - Maskachka, it my neighbourhood. It means little Moscow. When you say this is the region where you live, it is often met with such statements as – “You are a foreigner, why would you want to live there? It’s so dangerous”, "Nothing good can come out of Maskachka, and no one good can come out of there" "It’s one of the most criminal and poorest neighbourhoods in Riga. It’s mostly undeveloped areas with prewar buildings and narrow cobblestone-covered streets. Junkies, bums and poor people make here the hightest crime rate in Riga."

Well, I see it quite differently. It is a place whose people have suffered much hardship. Some have overcome, some have fallen victim to the difficulties, some have succumbed to hopelessness, making drugs and alcohol their only escape. From the outside, it is a place viewed as hopeless…but I see hope. While walking down the street to the tram stop, I often think, ‘if I had a bzillion dollars, this place would be restored’. Then, as soon as that thought comes to mind, I’m reminded that God can and is in the process of restoration. It starts with people’s lives, it starts with how we live and treat our ‘neighbours’. It starts with our thinking and what’s inside us, which indicates how we respond and behave. God transforms from the inside out – our hearts, our thinking, and that leads to transformation in a place. I was reminded that as a Christian, I should be leading the way as an example to the world.

What I witnessed was a small act, but one of great significance that turned my day around. It reflected the belief in the thinking of the businessman, that the homeless man lying in the street has value. He is worth the time to take to care for him. I reckon Jesus was well chuffed about that. The thought of it brought a smile to my face and I could not help telling everyone that crossed my path what happened. What an impact such a deed made.

…Later that evening, while taking a glance out the window, I saw the blood stained sidewalk, and remembered what I had witnessed. My attention was drawn to two women, arm in arm, walking very slowly down the street. One was disabled and unable to walk securely on her own. This woman’s sandal came off at one point, and I could see her struggling to get her friend to take her back the way they had just come. After some minutes, they turned around and headed back to get the sandal. A man walking toward them picked up the sandal. I expected him to just gently toss it on the ground in front of her. Instead, he knelt down, allowing the woman to put her hands on his shoulders for support, and he slipped it on her foot. There was an exchange of what seemed like a ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’, and off he went. Another small deed with a profound impact on me.

That day, I was blessed beyond measure. My faith and hope were increased…all because I witnessed these random acts of kindness. God used it to inspire me and remind me to do the same.

A New Focus - Life as Mission - Living Incarnationally and Intentionally

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

Imagine what things would be like if Jesus (the Word) moved in to your neighbourhood. Think of the things that are happening around where you live. In what things do you think He would participate? Where do you think Jesus could be found? Before you read further, take a minute to think about it… football matches, family barbecues, sitting with the homeless to have a chat?

The word ‘dwelt’ or lived, in the original language of Greek, means literally, to set up a tent. So, literally, the Word (Jesus) set up His tent among us. Jesus came into the world as a human being, someone we can relate to, and He moved into the neighbourhood! He did so, because He wanted to show us who God the Father is. He wanted to show us what God was like, and how much He loves us. He went to weddings, went to the synagogue, hung out at the beach, was often a dinner guest, and spent time with many different kinds of people.

Jesus did some radical things that showed God’s love. But, it makes sense, because God’s love for us is radical. He spent time with all kinds of people – church officials, children, Roman government officials, prostitutes, criminals, Samaritans (a people that the Jews despised), women, the poor and needy, and disabled, to name a few. He showed that God’s love could reach everyone, and that everyone was in need of this great love. Through showing this love people were forgiven, relationships were restored, people were healed, and they lived in freedom and hope.

Have you ever thought that you could have such an impact? Maybe with this approach – with ‘setting up your tent’, being with the people - do what they do, spend time with them, and point them to the Father through actions first, then words, we could have a great impact.

Years ago in my missionary career, I began to look at the number of relationships I had with people who were not Christians – followers of Christ. Then I began to consider, how intentional am I being about being involved in their lives and allowing them to be a part of my life. The strategy for simply going up to a stranger, or even someone with whom there was very little level of relationship and talking about Jesus led to their becoming annoyed and immediately closed the door for further conversations. However, as I began to simply talk with people, and slowly share my life with them, allowing them to see that any words I said were given authority by my actions, they were more open. I've found Jesus in places I didn't expect, and have found God already at work in peoples lives.

So, this will be the focus of the blog - life as mission. We pray 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. God uses us to see bring the Kingdom and see His will done on earth; and that, through every day life.

Springtime in Latvia

The snow has melted, and there seems to be more sunshine this Spring than I ever remember there being. While everything remains brown, and no sign of trees budding or flowers blooming is seen, there is such an expectation lingering in the air. A sense of excitement builds in my heart...I know it will come. Although no signs are evident, one can 'feel' it. Soon, new life will abound, people will walk more freely, and more happily. Experiencing life more abundantly will become the norm, and we will live with greater hope. It is only a matter of weeks before what is shown in the photo will become reality. On sunny days, I find myself taking the long way to my destination, being intentional to walk on the sunny side of the street, and simply choosing to be outside. Soon people will have business meetings at street-side cafe's, just to be outdoors, taking in every bit of lovely light and sunshine.

"In Him was life, and this life was the Light of men, and the Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it" - John 1:4 - 5

Living in Latvia, specifically, northern Europe, where winter is long, and days are filled with more darkness than daylight, has given me such an appreciation and sensitivity to daylight and sunshine. It paints for me a living picture of what happens to us when we are in the light...and when we are in the Light...we live...we live life abundantly...to it's fullness. The more we are in the Light, the more life we exude, the more we truly live!!!

"Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day'. Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' "

John 11:24 - 26