Blown Away

It's sad to say, and more than a little surprising to me, but I got floored this morning at the YS convention.

I've been in student ministry for 18 years (counting those 2 years in college). I seriously thought that I had pretty much experienced all that there is to see at the youth min conferences, heard all the stories that pull the heart strings, seen all the exhibits designed to pull a response out of me...until this morning. I wasn't much fun at lunch, to be quite honest.

Sharon Cohn was the speaker for this morning's session. Her page on their web site says:

Sharon Cohn serves as the Vice President of Interventions for International Justice Mission. IJM is an international human rights agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery and oppression. Based on referrals of abuse received from relief and development organizations, IJM conducts professional investigations of the abuses and mobilizes intervention on behalf of the victims.

I could barely talk after she shared the stories of 3 people who have been rescued from slavery, prostitution, and mistreatment at the hands of local police. My heart was in my throat as I listened. I felt anger, disbelief, and, ultimately, shame.

Shame.

I've been in ministry for almost 20 years, and I've never taught a lesson on Justice. Never spoken about one of the things most near the heart of God. I have no idea how many talks I've given, but I know that I have never touched this. It's not that I didn't know that justice/mercy/freedom is HUGE in the eyes of God. I just didn't know how or what to say, what to do about it.

27 million people are oppressed (if I remember her facts correctly) worldwide.

How can I do anything that affects so great a problem.

That's what she said I'd say.

As long as I (and you) stick with that attitude, evil will go right on opressing, holding down those under the ugly boot of slavery, robbing innocent children of family, stealing the virtue of children.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

No more.

Today I pledge to do something. I will act in my hometown. I will find ways to meet the needs of those who have no advocate, to speak for those who have no voice. I will learn about practical tangible ways to get involved. I'll teach my students that we have a great responsiblity to care for the widows and orphans, to feed the hungry, to ACT and not just feel sorry for those in peril. I will read stuff from Shane Claiborne and the IJM. Fair Trade coffee? No clothes bought from places utilizing sweatshops? Where does all this lead? There are resources out there like World Vision and Compassion International to help us get involved. Youth Specialties has revamped their 1 Life Revolution (which also kicked my butt at the convention.)

I'm still feeling pretty conflicted, even as I type this. I wonder if it'll make sense when I read it later...

I am not sure what the Lord is calling me to do or be in response to this. I just know that I can't stop thinking about how much I spend on me, how much time I waste entertaining myself, and how gross a consumer I am. When I think about the things I heard this morning, I can't help but be disappointed in myself. And I know that things have got to change.

Enough with the shame and bad feeling.
On to the doing things differently.

Because now I know.