What's Next??

In 2008-09 I REBUILT my sister in law's house. Some parts required tearing out from the sills on up and the studs on in.

These days, I am RESTORING four kitchen chairs we have had for 20+ years. The finish was fading and peeling from exposure to the sunlight over many years.

I am also RENEWING our recently purchased condo which was probably last updated in the mid-80's.

Those three words are the words the prophet Isaiah used to describe the ministry God's people in Isaiah 61:4 where he writes that those who are delivered by the Lord's Servant will go on to

"…rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.”

At the last Summer Fellowship gathering this past Friday, I shared with the group pictured here that this mission is one that we, along with all of God’s people, inherit as part of what it means to follow Christ. We are to use the resources, the education, the talents and the passions that we have to bring out the fullness and goodness of the places and institutions which we inhabit. That’s part of the even older calling of God to Abraham to be a people through whom “all the world will be blessed.”

As the school year resumes at Yale and other schools around the country, may this be the mindset with which Christian students, faculty, administrators and staff approach their work. We are not just to “use” this place for our own purposes. We are not to try to “escape” from this place because of the problems it has. We are not to “avoid” people here who are difficult for us. Instead, as Christians we are called to bless and be a blessing; we are called to contribute to the rebuilding, restoring and renewing of wherever we find ourselves.

What that means in our context and how we go about it is surely a matter of discernment and prayer and none of us will be able to do all that is needed. My examples above of rebuilding, restoring and renewing are all short range, clearly defined projects; the restoration of the world to reflect the glory of God is quite a bit more ambitious! But… we have a part to play; according to Isaiah, that’s the purpose of God’s people!

As we start a new academic year, let’s pray and work towards this end with the energy and insight that God’s spirit gives us.

Our God,

who blesses your people with the call

to rebuild what’s broken,

to restore what’s been lost, and

to renew what’s been ruined,

may we respond to your call,

turn from other loyalties and distractions, and

commit our energy, creativity, talents,

education and power

to your purposes in the world.

In the name of Christ we pray,

Amen.

This will be my last posting for a while. This summer was a time for reflection on the “why” of grad/faculty ministry; now is the time to put those reflections into action!

Systems Witness

Years ago I was introduced to the concept of “family systems.” In summary, what that means is that families are not just a collection of individuals, but a unit in which the actions of each member impact and influence the whole. When a member of the family seeks counseling for some presenting issue, it often leads to the whole family being changed. We are not autonomous individuals but rather live in a “web of relationships.” Society as a whole is like that too. We live in a network of systems which either enhance or diminish our lives personally. They can be agents of"good news" or "bad news."

I’ve been thinking of this because of two gatherings this weekend.

One was on Friday night at our Summer Fellowship gathering. Enping (pictured here with his permission!) shared about why he has chosen to study medical engineering, designing the tools doctors need to advance their work. Right next to Enping was Mike, a PhD candidate in economics whose focus is on models for reducing health care costs. Two seats away from Mike was Samantha who is in medical school. Across the circle was Evelyn, a recent Nursing School graduate whose story I shared in an earlier blog. Together, these four are all working in the same system though in very different aspects. Yet the work of each will impact the others… and all the rest of us as well!

On Sunday, I was at a reception for new students entering Yale’s School of Management. We had met some of them at a Welcome Weekend last April so this was a chance to invite those who had expressed interest in the Christian fellowship to meet one another during their orientation program. As they talked about why they have come to Yale, I was struck with the vision several of them have. Two want to be involved in financial systems that will benefit poor urban communities. Another spoke about her desire to better serve social service organizations.

The common denominator between these two gatherings is that these Christian students are involved in “systems witness” in that they are seeking to incarnate the values of God’s reign in the context of their work. As Enping said, what he sees himself involved with is a ministry of physical healing that echoes the ministry of Jesus. The focus of Mike’s health care cost study is what happens when an adversarial model of dealing with medical mistakes is replaced by a model that actively seeks to amend the situation (i.e. reconciliation rather than litigation!). Samantha and Evelyn seek to bring compassion as well as competency to their work. Personally, but even more so collectively, they are bearing witness to the reign of God to the whole system of healthcare. Likewise, the School of Management students are positioned to bring their witness to God’s priorities into our economic system. In other words, they want to make these systems carriers of "good news!"

Evangelical Christians most often think of witness in terms of “personal witness,” verbally sharing one’s faith with somebody. That’s a critical aspect of our witness, but the call to impact institutional systems with the values of God’s reign is likewise critical since it displays the working out of God’s shalom to the whole of society.

As I continue to consider what is similar and what is different in terms of ministry to undergrad and graduate students, this is surely one of the differences. By virtue of where they are in life, graduate students are positioned to have impact on systems that deeply impact us all. Part of our calling in ministry to graduate students is to keep encouraging them to let their Christian faith shape the way they do their work such that the reign of God becomes more and more visible in the world.

I read somewhere that C.S. Lewis wrote the Narnia Tales at least in part to create an imaginary world for children that would open their hearts and minds to receive the gospel when they heard it. “Systems witness” is like that; as we contribute to the formation or renewing of systems that are healthy and just and life enhancing, it contributes to the believability that indeed God is at work answering the prayer that his will may “be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What do you want me to do for you?

“What do you want me to do for you?” Luke 18:41

I’ve been reading through Luke’s gospel this summer and today came across this question by Jesus to a blind man. The context makes it pretty clear why the man came to Jesus so it caught my attention that Jesus actually asked him the question. Jesus doesn’t ask that question in other healing stories.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

I’ve been thinking about that question today. My first responses ranged from family concerns to “your kingdom come.” I also got focused on work issues and thought about what did I want to see happen in the various fellowships etc. I think I was reacting to the question as though I had obtained Aladdin’s lamp and needed to make sure I got the three best choices!

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Soon the “…for you?” became my focus. We are certainly called to pray for God’s kingdom to come and wanting the best for the fellowships is fine, but there is a personal tone to this question. “What do you want me to do for you?” What do I really want God to do in my life? Not in my family, not in my work, not in the world...but in me.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

It’s mid-afternoon now and I’m still working with question. The opening prayer in the Episcopal worship service comes to mind:

“…cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

…that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy Name.”

A clean heart would be good.

The closing prayer of the service also is also impressing itself on me:

“…Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart.”

Strength, courage and joy would be good too.

How about you. How do you respond to Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Maybe we aren’t even limited to just three wishes either!