The earthquake in Haiti has produced unimaginable suffering. It is beyond my comprehension to think of 40,000 bodies buried and another 100,000 to go. And still searching for and finding even I would encourage you to use our UM means - UMCOR and the Advance. The information is on our website, the UM website and was also printed in our church bullentin today. We will certainly assist you in seeing to it that all funds designated to support those effected by the tragedy receive the money in a timely fashion.
There is another point to find in this event. We often glamorize mission trips. It is a very meaningful thing to go to another part of the world and serve others. We generally go to much poorer places than we are accustomed to. This earthquake in Haiti serves to remind us that mission is "risk-taking." Everyday people literally lay their life on the line in mission and service to others. Recently we have seen some of these followers of Christ give their life in the hope they may make a difference in the world and in the lives of others.
Maybe this will shed some light on things Jesus said - like "take up your cross daily and follow me," "the one who seeks to save their life will lose it and the one who gives it up will find it." I hope we get the idea. This way of Christ, the Christian life, the life of grace is meant to be a life lived and given for Christ and others.
Thankfully most of us are not called to actually give our life but we are all called to follow Jesus. I plan to be at church this week with renewed commitment to the cause of Christ. I invite you to reflect on these events and how we may hear the voice of Christ in the cries of the poor and suffering. May God open a new path for us to follow and give renewed grace to transform our lives.
steve
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