Beautiful, beautiful.

God is Faithful. (Need I say more?)


I'm in the process of applying for a program called Jubilee Fellows. (Read about it here: http://www.calvin.edu/faith/service/jubilee/) I've been drawn to it for a number of reasons, but through divine clarification tonight, I've really begun to understand where my heart is. Maybe you've heard it before, but Frederick Buechner once said that "The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness meets the world's deep hunger." Nothing could be more clear to me right now than the truth of that.

As you all know, I'm an English major in the Secondary Ed program with a minor in English as a Second Language (ESL). It's not exactly a direct route to seminary, although I'm quite interested in that for someday. But tonight, with a dear friend, I was able to articulate what I'd been mulling over all evening.

In my Education classes, we've been doing a lot of talking about and reflecting on our learners. It's a difficult place when your learners are vastly diverse; whether by race, language, heritage, socioeconomic status, religious background, etc. How does a teacher conduct that classroom when the needs of her students are all over the board?

I've begun to see the world as my classroom. This may be quite literal, if I teach abroad, but right now it's a metaphor for the larger scale. This world is my classroom: there are people around me who are statistically well-off, with privileges handed to them that they've never gone without. And yet these people are carrying burdens and grief that I want to walk alongside them with.

But I have other students, too, that I must minister to. Jesus is always talking about the poor, because the poor will always be with us. Tonight my heart was broken to Zimbabwe, as I discovered through news articles the brokeness and pain going on through economic instability there. It's horrifying, and I grieve for it and for the girl in my dorm who is from there. And of course, that's not the only pain--far from it!--that is being revealed to me. Darfur, Guatemala, places in Eastern Europe, Western Europe!, and every region of the earth is in pain.

If I am the teacher, and the world is my classroom, to whom do I go to? Who do I serve? My deep gladness is to provide an education, to teach English and foster understanding. To provide an education is to say "I acknowledge you as Human. I recognize your intellect. I value your contribution. Let me walk alongside of you on your journey". But while this provides hope, it's not the whole story, and it is feeling increasingly inadequate.

If teaching is my delight, the next question is: Where is the greatest hunger?

Statistically, we know that answer but fail to recognize its place in our lives. Yes, there is hunger in the United States of America and I will never deny it. We need teachers here, too. I will probably teach here at some point.

But I also cannot deny that in other places it is far, far worse. Whole societies are falling apart. People are being strategically exterminated--physically, or socially--and are not being given a voice. My heart is breaking for them. I cannot live with myself and I cannot face the throne of God unless I go to them, the "other," the forsaken.

And yet, as I said, teaching English is not enough for me. I feel a call to incorporate ministry as a part of that. I must lead a life that is dynamic-- I cannot separate my faith into a separate compartment: teaching and ministry go hand in hand, as they have done for centuries. That's part of why I'm thinking about Jubilee Fellows: it may give me insight into ministry that would guide that process of understanding my role and my vocation.

I heard a message about the Beatitudes last week that has stayed with me. Andy DeJong, our Interim Chaplain, revealed insight into this passage by acknowledging that these Beatitudes are NOT the ideal we ought to work towards. The Beatitudes are a present reality. We already embody these statements, but there is still the question of to what extent? How committed are we to these identities? Are we willing to acknowledge that part in our lives instead of letting it slip away?


Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons and daughters of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.


(Matthew 5:3-10)


I am poor in spirit. I mourn. I am meek before God and man. I hunger and thirst for righteousness. I strive to be merciful. I ache to be pure in heart. I hope to be a peacemaker. I am willing to face persecution.

Mine is the kingdom of Heaven. I am comforted. I inherit the earth. I am filled. I am shown mercy. I see God. I am a daughter of God. Mine is the kingdom of Heaven.

Amen, amen, amen.


bjv