Comments on: 1/2 Way Through CCDA http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/12-way-through-ccda/ exploring the mystery of life and mission as one and the same Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:31:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JR Rozko http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/12-way-through-ccda/comment-page-1/#comment-5161 JR Rozko Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:38:35 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=770#comment-5161 Good thoughts Ryan.  I think a great beginning point is often the rich and powerful simply saying to the poor and marginalized, "I need you."  This was the rich man's great tragedy in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16).  He didn't realize his need of Lazarus, in fact, he sought to isolate himself from him.  It is when we look into the face and stand shoulder to shoulder with those who, seemingly, have nothing to offer us, that we encounter God himself in new and profound ways.  Something I am sure you have profoundly experienced.  What those who most often receive have to give runs deeper than this for sure, but like I said, it's a good beginning point. Love Nouwen and the quote you shared.  I am familiar with another one by Demond Tutu who said, "True liberation is when the oppressed are freed from being oppressed and the oppressors are freed from being oppressors." Good thoughts Ryan.  I think a great beginning point is often the rich and powerful simply saying to the poor and marginalized, “I need you.”  This was the rich man’s great tragedy in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16).  He didn’t realize his need of Lazarus, in fact, he sought to isolate himself from him.  It is when we look into the face and stand shoulder to shoulder with those who, seemingly, have nothing to offer us, that we encounter God himself in new and profound ways.  Something I am sure you have profoundly experienced.  What those who most often receive have to give runs deeper than this for sure, but like I said, it’s a good beginning point.

Love Nouwen and the quote you shared.  I am familiar with another one by Demond Tutu who said, “True liberation is when the oppressed are freed from being oppressed and the oppressors are freed from being oppressors.”

]]> By: ryan http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/12-way-through-ccda/comment-page-1/#comment-5160 ryan Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:56:11 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=770#comment-5160 Thanks JR for passing along the quote by Jonathan - "its dehumanizing to always be on the receiving end of things." It certainly has implications for me in Bogota, and will give me something very big to think about... how do you give someone who has NOTHING, the opportunity to give??  Obviously this goes beyond a material gift, which is why it becomes difficult.  I can see how too often I have allowed myself to believe that by giving to those that have nothing, whether it may be a material gift or a gift of love in some way, is enough, and how i have missed the other side of the equation - that to show them how they too can give, in love to others, is essential to their discovery of SELF WORTH, and of a God who loves them even if they find themselves on the fringes of society.  It is all too easy to get caught up in the notion that our fulfillment of God's call for us to love our neighbor is found in simply giving, however sacrificial it may be.  "True liberation is freeing people from the bonds that have prevented them from giving their gifts to others."   - Henri Nouwen Thanks JR for passing along the quote by Jonathan – “its dehumanizing to always be on the receiving end of things.” It certainly has implications for me in Bogota, and will give me something very big to think about… how do you give someone who has NOTHING, the opportunity to give??  Obviously this goes beyond a material gift, which is why it becomes difficult.  I can see how too often I have allowed myself to believe that by giving to those that have nothing, whether it may be a material gift or a gift of love in some way, is enough, and how i have missed the other side of the equation – that to show them how they too can give, in love to others, is essential to their discovery of SELF WORTH, and of a God who loves them even if they find themselves on the fringes of society.  It is all too easy to get caught up in the notion that our fulfillment of God’s call for us to love our neighbor is found in simply giving, however sacrificial it may be. 

“True liberation is freeing people from the bonds that have prevented them from giving their gifts to others.”   – Henri Nouwen

]]> By: sarah christoph http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/12-way-through-ccda/comment-page-1/#comment-5155 sarah christoph Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:41:51 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=770#comment-5155 CCDA Sounds like a great conference! CCDA Sounds like a great conference!

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