Justice & Just Mercy

More about The Bethlehem Center and how Gloria invited me to join her for a movie...

Gloria at The Bethlehem Center loved the idea of having her Seniors involved in writing cards to inmates. She added after we'd checked our calendars and made a plan for when to start.

“It's funny that your idea is about serving those in prison. You see, this Saturday, my sorority is holding a private screening of a new movie called 'Just Mercy.' Have you heard of it?” I hadn’t. She was so excited, that even though she was now late to her next appointment she took the time to pull up the trailer. It is a new movie set in the 1980’s about death row inmates who had not had a fair trial. And how a young black lawyer from Maryland began a non-profit practice to advocate for them.

"YES! Yes! Get me a ticket too! I'll see you there!"

Saturday afternoon, three days after I had the conversation with Gloria about having her Seniors involved in writing cards to inmates I left to meet Gloria at the movie theater.

Before I started driving, I had that same kind of inner prompting that had sent me to go see Gloria earlier in the week:

“Pull up that TED Talk you had seen posted on Facebook. You know, the one from 2012 on Justice. Listen to that as you drive.” 

So I did. It turned out is was about CRIMINAL justice, and it was a compelling talk by a lawyer named Bryan Stevenson. 

“I’ll be listening to this again.” I thought to myself. "I have so much to learn."

Thirty minutes later I’m sitting in the movie theatre with Gloria and her sorority friends. As the story unfolded I began thinking “How strange! These are similar issues as that seven year old TED talk I just listened to!”

And then somone in the movie called the young lawyer by his name: Bryan.

The hair stood up on my arms. 

"Dear Lord! You are unbelievable! Just Mercy is the movie based on how Bryan Stephenson began his work!" It was a remarkable, world view shifting day for me opening my eyes and heart much wider to issues about injustice. I went home and watched every other TED Talk I could find on the topic.

That was the first eleven days of this year!

There's more. but that's enough for today.

Martin Luther King Day in Chattanooga

"A day ON instead of a day OFF!”

What a great idea. 

There are 387 churches in this county. 

Chattanooga has claimed to be the "most churched city in America." 

But we're also finding that there are some pretty messed up churches here!

The one we were sent to is NOT MESSED UP! 

It is an historic inner-city church, with a satellite venue that needed a good scrubbing.

First thing in the morning we checked in with about 250 other volunteers in the gym of University of Tennessee Chattanooga. 

The MLK Day organizers had a LOT of places we could go, but seemed low on volunteers. 

So, on my way to the church, I texted the owner of a housecleaning company I know. I asked to see if her staff could come and join us. Yeah, I ask crazy stuff like that of people. But I sense I ought to do something, I pray about it, and then do it. I'm okay looking and sounding like a fool.

The team wasn't free that day, but I told here where we were going and said, "Let's plan on doing this together next year."

She texted back, "THAT'S MY CHURCH!"

hmmm.
THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN CHURCHES here...

...of course it's her church!

BUSINESS TITLE: "Explorer | Encourager | Gypsy"

Check out the title I put on my business cards from 2015:

Gypsy.

Jim and I have lived a bit like gypsies since leaving Asia at the end of 2014. Jim spent a good deal of time in Vietnam and and I was finding ways to "bloom where I'm planted."

I ditched making my annual detailed goals (as uncomfortable as that was). Life was too much up in the air!

I prayed for my spirit to be as still as my life was. As I prayed, I had an image of floating in an inner tube. I was on a Lazy River with the Lord. With that image, I could daily be eager to find out who and what God would bump us up against.

The Lord had invited this Activist Explorer to explore a more Contemplative lifestyle.

Surrendering to this new focus, I wrote in my journal, "I want to come to a place of so enjoying this quiet with God, that when he gives me a green light, to GO and do, I am reluctant to leave his presence."

Well, the light turned has turned green in 2020!

Every week, and sometimes every day, clues are coming in ways that give me goosebumps. 2020 has been quite an adventure so far. But, it is with a different head and heart space that I dive back in to a full life. 

I have so much less bravado, and quite a bit more peace. I would prefer that every day had extended time of quiet, and pray as I go that his presence will go with me, leading the way.

Have you ever had a season where a transition forced you to learn contentment in the liminal space?

This quote from Richard Rohr was very helpful to me...

Mentoring resources we have used draw a lot from Fuller Professor and Author Dr. Robert Clinton. He wrote and taught about transitions. Terry Walling, on of his students wrote the book Stuck on the same subject. When we find ourselves stuck somehow, we need to first surrender to the idea that God allows these tough seasons to shape our character. 

He wants us to lean in, rather than scratch and fight for a way out... ASAP. He will lead us out. But if we don't learn the thing he's offering for us to learn, he will bring the lesson back round again.

In order to finish well, lean in. According to Clinton's research on Christian leaders who finished well, eventually God will stop bringing the lesson. If we refuse to learn the character lessons we need, our lives will plateau, and we won't enjoy what could have been if we had grown closer to the Lord, and stronger in character.