Injustice in the World

The idea of justice has been on my mind lately. It seems to be coming up everywhere. We talked about it a little in Sunday School last week in our small group discussions of Crazy Love, I came across the most recent Catalyst Journal which focuses on God's justice, my friend Laura brought it up in her blog, and this morning I was reading about it in my online class. I think it's a topic that the Lord is asking me to re-explore, especially as I reflect on past and present personal experiences.

From this morning's reading, there's this family therapist named Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy, and he has a family therapy plan that's based on justice and fairness. He says that good, healthy families are based on love and trust. When parents act in loving and trustworthy ways, the children respond and become loving and trustworthy adults. If children don't get this environment, then they have an imbalance of the equity in the everyday giving and taking that goes on in life.

What happens when these children become adults? Probably one of two things. The first is that they have the attitude of "i didn't get it then, but i'm sure gonna get it now." Second, the attitude of "i didn't deserve it then, so i dont deserve it now." So the injustice continues.

Apply that to our "family" around the world. Kids grow up in war-torn, impoverished countries, or in violent, impoverished American neighborhoods, and weren't treated in loving and trustworthy ways. So they grow up to typically be non-loving and non-trustworthy adults. And the injustice perpetuates.

So, how do we help this and stop the cycle of injustice? By radically loving and acting in trustworthy ways to those we come into contact with. Not just to be "good people" but to battle injustice. So the next time I want to lash out at the person who didn't do something that I liked, or when I feel like no one is looking out for me and I need to act in a selfish way to protect my needs and wants, I need to remember that that will only breed more selfishness and injustice. Instead, we are called to step out in love, becoming a sort of a sacrifice ... hmmm... that sounds familiar...

p.s. could this be a step to peacemaking- working for peace and transformation in creative non-violent ways?

Being the Change I Want to See

Does Jesus make a difference in real life?

Because by the way that many live, it sure seems like He doesn't. At least that's my opinion. But am I expecting too much out of people? Am I expecting the Holy Spirit to do more than what it does?

I get that people are fallen. I sure am. And I get that people don't act perfectly. Oh man, I don't. Ask my husband or son or mom or dad or brother or any of those in my community. They can give you tons of examples, I'm sure. In fact, if you really do ask them, please don't tell me about it. I think it'd just be discouraging.

But, I WANT my love for Jesus, and the Holy Spirit's work in me, to make a real, see-able difference. I want to look a little different tomorrow than I do today. I really really do. I want to love people better. I want to be less selfish. And less judging (ha, nice post then huh?). And less of a worrier. And more generous with my time and money and energy.

But sometimes I get discouraged by the lack of growth I see in other peoples' lives, and then I wonder if other people look at my life the same way. I certainly don't want to be a discouragement to others. And I don't want my life to say that the Holy Spirit isn't into radically changing lives.

Falling back into the same old struggles. Struggling just as much with something 3 or 4 years after becoming a follower of Jesus. With no new tools of fighting. Accountability becomes patting one another on the head, week after week, saying, "it's okay, you'll do better next time." REALLY?

Father, help us to be radically different. Get inside of us. I pray that this generation, my generation, me, lets you in. Help us not to play the game. We want to look really different because we're a new creation-- because of the work YOU do in us. And may we not ignore your voice or choose the easy thing. Teach us to hold one another accountable in ways that are beneficial, and not in ways that seem "nice" but are really slowly destroying us. Give us that one person, or more than that one person, who can speak real stuff into our lives without us shutting down or shutting them out. Help us to embrace restoration and help in overcoming areas that make us less whole.

How can we expect to make a difference in the world today when we can't even work hard enough (along with the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, of course) to change some of the old ways in us?