War, Camels and Activism
by WCBI am not an activist.
I don’t do picket lines, marches, or sign petitions outside Trader Joe’s.
The Roe-vs-Wade decision was remembered a couple of days ago.
The anniversary of ML King’s birthday was celebrated earlier this week.
There’s a war going on Iraq.
Business as usual for me.
So, what gets me riled up? When do I feel compelled to act, speak out, join in, carry a sign?
I’m thinking hard about this, but can’t come up with an answer.
Ah… but, then I do remember a time when I got so mad I had to do something. An Indian friend of mine told me the story of how Saudis came to his country to purchase infants and toddlers to take them back to Saudi Arabia. The little tikes were then tied to the backs of camels. Frightened the little people would cry, alarming the camels sending the ugly creatures off running. In this way, the Saudis conducted camel races. Not a pretty picture at all; not for the fainthearted to be sure. In the end, the children were simply discarded.
The whole scenario made me angry, furious.
I borrowed the idea of raising money through an activity and pledges and such and decided I would recruit my staff and students to see if we couldn’t do something to save some, any of those kids. It took me two years, count ‘em, to get my staff on board in Japan before we finally got a program off the ground that I thought would make a difference.
In ten years we raised a considerable amount of money that was used to dig wells, build hospital wings and training centers, inoculate kids in numerous villages and buy out of slavery hundreds of kids.
My staff, students in Japan and I ‘marched’ in long distance (100km) walks and monies we raised were sent to people I trusted who I new would make a real difference… at least in some lives.
Activism… When? Where? For what cause?
I guess for me, it boils down to when I know my efforts, my fellowship with others will make a measurable difference and most of all the people that are affected will be drawn closer to salvation in Jesus.
I am funny like that and I know my way is not for everyone.
I am curious, however, to know – what gets you so riled up that you just have to get up, get out, and make a difference?
January 25th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Well, Bill, you know how to pick them, and I wish I could have supported you in that effort. When I read the Bible, I see that when God is said to be angry, it tends to be over “injustice,” the mistreatment of the weaker members of society: widows, orphans, poor, aliens in the land.
I was quite active in the Recall Pete Wilson campaign, partly because I wasn’t happy with him, but also because I wanted to know what it was like to be part of a grassroots effort.
I learned a tremendous amount about what makes these efforts succeed and fail, and it made me better appreciate the hours and resources that go into any noble cause or volunteer institution, including Christian congregations. In fact, I marvel that churches carry on at all, and I attribute that to God’s grace in helping us get along and stay focused on a goal larger than ourselves. Sometimes, I think our goals aren’t large enough, though.
Honestly, aside from supporting Heifer International and my sisters working in Uganda and Guinea, I haven’t found a community cause that moved me enough to really sink my teeth into. I think I can see some of the factors that might provide the kick I need: a personal tie, a sense of outrageous injustice or need, the belief that I could make a difference.
Meanwhile, I look forward to helping feed about 15 homeless people in our church (one month out of the year). That’s a small thing even I can do.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Isn’t “passive Christian” an oxymoron?
Being a disciple of Christ gives one motivation for action, but how do we apply our activity?