Easter Reflections

This year, I am finding a new meaning in Easter. Growing up, I had been taught stories in the form of substitutionary atonement. Jesus died, so that we may be forgiven. I would listen to the crucifixion story with guilt and shame over my sinful nature and rejoice that I believed in a God wonderful enough to sacrifice the Son of God, so that I may enter into eternal life. There were no personal connections for me, besides sadness for what Christ had to endure in his last days and thankfulness for a mighty God. I don’t think the story ever truly connected for me because it didn’t make sense that a loving God would need blood to extend forgiveness. That disconnection also didn’t seem like something you could really question as a professing Christian. It seemed like a major bullet point on the list of things you needed to believe, in order to fall within the Christian faith.

This past year, I was first introduced to the idea that maybe God didn’t actually need spilt blood to appease the wrathful nature of God. This new (for me) idea proclaimed that Jesus was the full manifestation of God’s love for us. Jesus lived his life in love and taught us all how to live in love for one another. The people of the world chose to deny that love and new way of living, which culminated with the crucifixion. The cross is a symbol that we use to remember how far Jesus went to show God’s love to the world. Fortunately that’s not the end of the story. God triumphs and raises Jesus from the dead. God’s perfect love can overpower anything evil or broken amongst us.  

This new way of thinking has allowed me to connect with the Easter story on a more personal level. Instead of just becoming a time for remembering the death of Christ and power of God, it also becomes a call to live as Christ lived. Christ devoted his entire life to proclaiming God’s love. Isn’t that what we are all charged with? This is something that I have really been trying to do with my life: to act fully within Missio Dei, God’s Mission. I fall short all the time, but it remains the forefront goal in my life. That is really a scary goal to have and it is what led me to serving in South Africa.

This year, I am connecting with the Easter story where I am: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have realized that many people, myself included, have been hurt by a broken world, just as Christ was also hurt by the world. While trying to serve God and proclaim love, I have seen unjust systems, discrimination, and exploitation at play. This Easter, I’m hearing the good news with a different mindset. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, God can raise up and heal each of our wounded spirits. With God, there is true healing for all who search.  Usually at Easter time, I focus on what part of me needs to die with Christ, so that I may be made new. This year, because of where I am, I need to focus on a different aspect of the story. I need to know that the world is broken and people from the world make bad decisions, but just as God did for Jesus, God will be with us and love will triumph in the end. I pray that the grace and presence of God surrounds us all this Easter season. May we rejoice in knowing that Christ is risen! Shalom.

The Sacredness of Every Moment

          Rebekah and I have been attending a cell group, or small group, with people from our community. With that group, we are studying and discussing the book, “Learning to Belong: Be at Home in God’s World.” One quote really stuck out to me a couple weeks ago and helped me to change some of my thought patterns. It says, “The call to be at home in God’s presence is not just about facing the great crises of our world. It is just as much about learning to discover the sacredness of every moment and every place. When our lives are flooded with a sense of God, wherever we are becomes holy ground, pregnant with the potential for a true encounter with God’s spirit.” Since I’ve been here, I’ve found myself getting frustrated when I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. I came here with this great sense of call to do something and on slower days I can become discouraged that I’m somehow falling short of the proverbial measuring stick. What this quote reminded me of was that God can use me in any situation, regardless of what’s happening around me. It doesn’t matter, if I’m at a conference and partaking in a breakthrough moment or whether I’m having tea time with a friend. God can use me to cultivate love. God’s spirit can surround me and guide me throughout my day. I am learning to be content where I am. I fail… a lot, but I’m learning. I want to be present where I am, to push for change towards a world closer to the one that God envisions for us all, but to not miss out on the life-giving moments happening around me.

Like when I got to ride in my friend's bother's microlight, which was awesome!

I participated in a conference for religious leaders. The discussions surrounded how religious leaders could become mediators in their communities to alleviate cultural tensions.

 

 

I watched my baba boeti (baby brother) play field hockey. He’s in yellow. Go Merensky! :)

 

I was invited to attend worship at one of the circuit churches.

 

 

I was also incredibly spoiled and taken to Kruger National Park, where I saw a rhino.

 
          These were all moments of true joy along my journey. So, while I’m here, my job will be to do research for the Methodist Church of Southern Africa concerning children in transition or “children on the move.”

          “Children on the move is an umbrella definition for persons under the age of 18 who have left their place of habitual residence and are either on the way towards a new destination, or have already reached such destination. Children on the Move may be:

• across State borders or within countries;
• movement can be of a seasonal or more permanent nature;
• movement can be voluntary or forced;
• they can be accompanied by parents, peers or others, or not;
• and children who are, for instance: internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and refugees, migrants, trafficked persons or child soldiers.”

-Global Movement for Children
 

          I have been tasked to survey the issue in my area (and up towards Zimbabwe and Mozambique), by networking with local non-profits, talking with community members, and researching already prepared materials. Then, I will be determining how Methodist Churches in South Africa can be more present with children on the move. This is a big issue and a lot of work. There will be many ups and downs along the ways. However, I can begin to “discover the sacredness of every moment and every place” and let God guide me through this. So, when I’m working full force or when I can’t see where to turn next (and abscond from work to have lunch with a friend), God is present and that moment is sacred.