So i ran into Sommer this morning at the gym... it wasn't until later on that i realized how much i needed her.
Sommer started sharing with me what she was reading, learning, and what God was teaching her... and i was soaking it all in. You know how sometimes you forget that you are hungry. And then you smell something that reminds you of your hunger? She brought a sense, scent, of life with her this morning. And i needed that to remind me that I am hungry for God.
Thank you Sommer.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
High Cost
A high cost
That was the thought that was running through my head when I left the Seder dinner, and it almost made me cry.
The Jewish community is amazing. His family is amazing, strong and close. His sister invited me to her Bat Mitzihav... the whole evening I was invited into their world.
Their love and passion for each other and a desire to see each other succeed and be happy is amazing. The depth of love that everyone has, and in his particular family there are few secrets. There is nothing hidden and the family friends speak freely into the lives of the children. They are full of life and laughter. The house laughed, even when sad, it laughed.
They made sure I understood everything that was going on. “Wait slow down, this is Nnena’s first seder make sure she sees and understands.”
We sang songs and prayers. There was one song that stuck in my head the song had a phrase, Dayeinu, and what it meant is “Thank you God for over doing it,” And we said this after each verse in a song about how God brought them out of Egypt. The way the Seder book explain the song was that ‘the point of the poem is to express gratitude for every facet of God’s miraculous deliverance. The poet feels the living power of each gesture of divine favor, irrespective of the total result. Had You only done this and no more- it would have been enough for me to feel Your divine love. The principle of dayeinu, or giving thanks even for the partial and incomplete, is crucial for living in this uncertain world… We thank God every day for the miracle of being alive.’
Early in the dinner there was a sack that contained three pieces of Matza and one of the pieces of Matza (Afikoman) was broken and hidden for the children to find at a later time. I think one of the amazing things was when the children found the Afikoman… and the parents had to give a ransom to get it back from the children. Ah you see the symbolism? But the things that got me was that there was a twist to it, the children could give ten percent of the ransom they got for the Afikoman and their parents would match it and they would give it to some one else in bondage and someone who needs help. Hum…
After dinner we continued the story from the Seder and at a point of the story his uncle looked at me and said “we believe that the Messiah has not come yet and we are still waiting for him.”
I heard what he was saying under that statement.
Everything they are and their world is tied up in being Jewish… and being Jewish means waiting for the messiah to come… there does not seem to be a middle ground… their identity is being Jewish, the family is Jewish, their community is Jewish and the messiah has not come… but He has.
That is why the cost is so great. I understand why when someone becomes a believer and their family is Jewish or Muslim why it is so hard. Because in a way you are rejecting your family… I can’t put it in better words. I am sorry. But all I could think of when I left the dinner that evening was how great the cost was. And now I understand better the greater persecution that occurred in the Bible, the pain of being separated from your people. I understand why you must hate mother and father to follow Christ, because it would seem and be that, you had rejected the faith of your fathers what made you Jewish. You would be rejecting your family.
You would be rejecting an amazing colorful family that is full of love and life.
The cost is great
That was the thought that was running through my head when I left the Seder dinner, and it almost made me cry.
The Jewish community is amazing. His family is amazing, strong and close. His sister invited me to her Bat Mitzihav... the whole evening I was invited into their world.
Their love and passion for each other and a desire to see each other succeed and be happy is amazing. The depth of love that everyone has, and in his particular family there are few secrets. There is nothing hidden and the family friends speak freely into the lives of the children. They are full of life and laughter. The house laughed, even when sad, it laughed.
They made sure I understood everything that was going on. “Wait slow down, this is Nnena’s first seder make sure she sees and understands.”
We sang songs and prayers. There was one song that stuck in my head the song had a phrase, Dayeinu, and what it meant is “Thank you God for over doing it,” And we said this after each verse in a song about how God brought them out of Egypt. The way the Seder book explain the song was that ‘the point of the poem is to express gratitude for every facet of God’s miraculous deliverance. The poet feels the living power of each gesture of divine favor, irrespective of the total result. Had You only done this and no more- it would have been enough for me to feel Your divine love. The principle of dayeinu, or giving thanks even for the partial and incomplete, is crucial for living in this uncertain world… We thank God every day for the miracle of being alive.’
Early in the dinner there was a sack that contained three pieces of Matza and one of the pieces of Matza (Afikoman) was broken and hidden for the children to find at a later time. I think one of the amazing things was when the children found the Afikoman… and the parents had to give a ransom to get it back from the children. Ah you see the symbolism? But the things that got me was that there was a twist to it, the children could give ten percent of the ransom they got for the Afikoman and their parents would match it and they would give it to some one else in bondage and someone who needs help. Hum…
After dinner we continued the story from the Seder and at a point of the story his uncle looked at me and said “we believe that the Messiah has not come yet and we are still waiting for him.”
I heard what he was saying under that statement.
Everything they are and their world is tied up in being Jewish… and being Jewish means waiting for the messiah to come… there does not seem to be a middle ground… their identity is being Jewish, the family is Jewish, their community is Jewish and the messiah has not come… but He has.
That is why the cost is so great. I understand why when someone becomes a believer and their family is Jewish or Muslim why it is so hard. Because in a way you are rejecting your family… I can’t put it in better words. I am sorry. But all I could think of when I left the dinner that evening was how great the cost was. And now I understand better the greater persecution that occurred in the Bible, the pain of being separated from your people. I understand why you must hate mother and father to follow Christ, because it would seem and be that, you had rejected the faith of your fathers what made you Jewish. You would be rejecting your family.
You would be rejecting an amazing colorful family that is full of love and life.
The cost is great
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Welcome to Macon
Well my sister and her friends met my mission field last night. They came in town for a missions commissioning and after the service came to a law school party. Well after the fire alarm was set off in the elevator, Jay got sick, and the landlord called the cops (truly not as dramatic as I make that out to be) we headed downstairs into the apartment of the girls in the house. There as we were heading out the door to go back my house, Lizzy got sick. And while Matt and Ashley were in the bathroom taking care of her, the guys asked my sister and crew why they were here. So with a drunk girl throwing up in the bathroom they proceeded to tell three equally as drunk people about the mission trip they were taking. John and Charles were very curious and started thanking them going on their trip.
Welcome to my mission’s field girls.
I was talking to one of the Vanessa, one of Ori’s friends, about it. She said the thought that running through her head was “well when the Lord opens a door.” I laughed.
What was cool about last night is that almost everyone from our Monday night meeting was there. Even people who normally do not get out was there to support the band (we have a law school band. They are great!) or to wish Cheryl a happy b-day (the whole reason we were there).
Prayer requests: When you hang out with people there is always temptation. Pray that as a group we are strong and also individually. Also I will be going with Josh to a Seder dinner at his aunt's house this Wed. I have always been curious and now i have a friend who will let me come! Pray for good conversation with him and the family. Also pray that they understand that i am coming to learn and enjoy their culture. Pray that I don't make a fool of myself trying to pronounce Hebrew. lol.
Praise: For the first time since I have been at Law School there was actually mixing of the races at a party. That is huge for Mercer. Honestly the school can be rather segregated but I guess so is the rest of the world.
Thanks guys!
Oh and if y’all want to meet the gang, after finals there will be an end of year party. Everyone is invited. May 12th 2006. The band will be playing and you can meet some of the people I talk about and love.
Till then
-n
Welcome to my mission’s field girls.
I was talking to one of the Vanessa, one of Ori’s friends, about it. She said the thought that running through her head was “well when the Lord opens a door.” I laughed.
What was cool about last night is that almost everyone from our Monday night meeting was there. Even people who normally do not get out was there to support the band (we have a law school band. They are great!) or to wish Cheryl a happy b-day (the whole reason we were there).
Prayer requests: When you hang out with people there is always temptation. Pray that as a group we are strong and also individually. Also I will be going with Josh to a Seder dinner at his aunt's house this Wed. I have always been curious and now i have a friend who will let me come! Pray for good conversation with him and the family. Also pray that they understand that i am coming to learn and enjoy their culture. Pray that I don't make a fool of myself trying to pronounce Hebrew. lol.
Praise: For the first time since I have been at Law School there was actually mixing of the races at a party. That is huge for Mercer. Honestly the school can be rather segregated but I guess so is the rest of the world.
Thanks guys!
Oh and if y’all want to meet the gang, after finals there will be an end of year party. Everyone is invited. May 12th 2006. The band will be playing and you can meet some of the people I talk about and love.
Till then
-n
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