.a change of heart...

Today = Luke 6:27-49 + Genesis 6-7 + Psalm 3

Well once again I'm posting late... but it gave me lots of time since this morning to think about the verses!
Anyway, the verses in Luke are some of the more famous in the Bible, at least as far as popular culture goes.. The "Golden Rule" has been utilized by countless numbers of teachers, parents, and babysitters. Even in just my three days of reading through the Bible, I keep hitting verses that I think I am super familiar with, but look at a second time and find so much more meaning.

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you...." (Luke 6:27-31)

This "Do to others as you would have them do to you" is the basic rule I've had pounded into my head since I was old enough to write my name with all the letters facing the right direction. But I think I never really took the preceding verses into account. I could never quite picture God asking us to act poor and defenseless, handing out our clothes to whoever might like them (which is an insane thought during the dead of winter in Minnesota.). But I think I feel like we're being called to something different, something more than just giving material items.

Thousands of people give to charity or donate their old used broken things to the local Salvation Army, or spare a quarter or two when they start ringing the bells for the red kettles. I think we are asked to give more than that. It's not our broken unused stuff that we should give because it is not truly giving; we aren't sparing anything, and it doesn't hurt us in the slightest. Lately it seems to be the 'holy' way of taking out the materialist trash. The thrift store or shelter takes our rejected stuff off our hands, and we get nifty tax breaks and brownie points for being 'Good Christians' or "Caring Citizens." Bogus. When have we truly given anything? Time, clothes, food, money.... we never give in an act of sacrifice and humanity; we always give out of our wealth.

I feel challenged to give of myself a little more. No, I don't have money, I'm a poor college student. No, I don't have time because I'm in a long-term relationship with this thing called 'Architecture.' No, I don't have a whole lot of wisdom or skills that I feel are worthy to teach. No, sometimes I feel like I don't have any clothes to spare, even though I have them falling out of every drawer and swallowing every hanger. But these are the excuses I find it all-too-easy to make for myself. But in this lack of 'stuff,' I find myself feeling a little rich. Because when I do give, I feel like I am giving much because I have little. And gosh, when you're poor you have to be creative! There are other things to give: prayer (when was the last time you had someone pray over you?), cooking a meal, sharing music, giving friendship, giving coffee (gotta love a cup of joe!), giving an old textbook instead of selling it.... We are never rich because we have things, but because we have a King who provides all that we need. We can be rich in love and joy, which are so much more satisfying. God's lending plan ("But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back" Luke 6:33) doesn't seem very sound in todays' market of sharks, but when looked at as an investment of love and kindness, it does make perfect sense.

I think my favorite of all the reading is Luke 6:45. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." I think this verse challenges me so much. It's not about what I do that matters. In the end I can't control that. What I do and what I say will happen because of the state of my heart. So I think I need to stop asking myself, "What have I accomplished today, yesterday, this past year..?" and begin asking myself, "What have I done to change my heart?"