You know, I should have asked because that extra little question might’ve gotten me past the barrier that exists between me, a middle-aged woman living the American dream, and a young kid just barely getting by.

april, thank you for writing about this: for articulating — “naming” –something that will haunt and hopefully motivate me. that barrier is there for me too – an uncomfortable one, one that keeps me from looking in the eyes of others. your willingness to share your experience helps me because it identifies one of my flaws/bends towards sin that, being aware, i can begin to work with God to change. (and jim and helen, thanks for the reminder of jesus’ humanity and words – uber encouraging).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer who said, “The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community (even if their intentions are ever so earnest), but the person who loves those around them will create community.”

i love this quote!

Even if it was a lie (who knows – maybe, maybe not) I helped her be a bit happier. I’ve never seen her again.

I know what you mean though – it’s such a small thing compared to the needs out there.

I try to remember it’s still better than nothing. I like how Paul says ‘think of yourself with sober judgment’. For a long time I thought that meant “Don’t think of yourself too highly” but then I realized, actually it means have an accurate view of yourself. If you do a good thing don’t dismiss it. Just don’t assume you’re ‘there’ already because of one small thing. I like how Jesus praised someone by saying “you’re near the kingdom” (I hope I didn’t already say this here – I think I just said it on someone else’s blog). To me that perfectly balances – “you are doing well!” with “keep going!”

Beautifully written and expressed.

I of course identify with your self reflection on the hypcrisy we middle class people live in.

We just dont have to feel it or see it that often. (try living in India and you’ll feel like a hyper hypocrite)

However- One of the reasons I am a follower of the way of Jesus is because the founder of my movement while certainly caring for the poor also

1) Spent the first 30 years of his life doing nothing out of the ordinary (a lot like me)

2) Walked over sick people to get to one reluctant guy at a pool to heal him

3) Invited himself to a tax collectors house – ate dinner and said nothing profound

4) Said – The Son can only do what the Father shows him to do (Jn 5:19)

5) Said – No man takes my life from me – I lay it down of my own free will ( he had a will)

6) At his most profound point of suffering asked to be let off the hook adnd failing that turned to 3 people who were about to betray him and asked them to pray for him.

I love Jesus because he was human – without that I am uninterested