relationships possible because of Christ

Two books (among other unfinished books) that I'm reading currently are Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross and Relationship: A Mess Worth Making.

Even past Easter, the Cross is just as significant. Have I lost my first love? Christ is all I need, yet I allow the world to distract me. And especially with quick access to distractions, it is even harder to keep my eyes on the cross. This reading has excerpts, short but powerful. If I were to explain the Gospel, I can probably say it in 5 minutes, but there are many facets of it to ponder and meditate. In a sermon I recently listened to, the pastor mentioned how we love stories. We get sucked into dramas, wanting to know what happens. We love the supernatural, the unconditional love, the "happy ever after", etc. But they are all made up; it's a way of "salvation" for the world form reality. Yet, the story of the Cross is reality. It is the most amazing story and it is true. It describes something supernatural, love, hope, power, and so forth. Our sinful self keeps us from the wonder the true story calls for. Let us not lose that wonder of how God poured upon His Son the wrath that we fully deserved. What a love. This seems all spiritual and how does this apply to every day? As I start reading Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, a topic I wish I were an expert in so I would not be hurt by them, I learn the need of the gospel even in them. It is quite freeing to know that I will fail on my own strength and that relationships will have unavoidable conflict. The solution is not really better strategies, but Christ as our hope.

"We all look for strategies or techniques that will free us from the pain of relationships and the hard work good relationships demand. We hope that better planning, more effective communication, clear role definitions, conflict resolution strategies, gender studies, and personality typing - to name just a few - will make the difference. There may be value in these things, but if they were all we needed, Jesus' life, death, and resurrection would be unnecessary or, at best, redundant.

Skills and techniques appeal to us because they promise that relational problems can be fixed by tweaking our behavior without altering the bent of our hearts. But the Bible says something very different. It says that Christ is the only real hope for relationships because only he can dig deep enough to address the core motivations and desires of our hearts." (11)

"Does the challenge and mess of relationships leave you discouraged? Does the biblical honesty about human community shock you? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the hard work relationships require? If so, you are ready for this last fact: The shattered relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the cross provides the basis for our reconciliation. No other relationship ever suffered more than what Father, Son, and Holy Spirit endured when Jesus hung on the cross and cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus was willing to be the rejected Son so that our families would know reconciliation. Jesus was willing to become the forsaken friend so that we could have loving friendships. Jesus was willing to be the rejected Lord so that we could live in loving submission to one another. Jesus was willing to be the forsaken brother so that we could have godly relationships. Jesus was willing to be the crucified King so that our communities would experience peace." (13)

O great God of highest heaven

Occupy my lowly heart

Own it all and reign supreme

Conquer every rebel power

Let no vice or sin remain

That resists Your holy war

You have loved and purchased me

Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin

Had no ears to hear Your voice

Did not know Your love within

Had no taste for heaven’s joys

Then Your Spirit gave me life

Opened up Your Word to me

Through the gospel of Your Son

Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life

That’s dependent on Your grace

Keep my heart and guard my soul

From the evils that I face

You are worthy to be praised

With my every thought and deed

O great God of highest heaven

Glorify Your Name through me

"O Great God" © 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Reflections from Ghana

I’ve been writing this reflection and finally got to finishing it. Actually maybe I’ll just write some things and as more thoughts come I’ll just blog more rather than just writing one huge post. It has been three weeks since I left Ghana.  I wish it weren’t so, but it is becoming more of a distant memory like a movie and kind of surreal. I loved family vacations when I was a child, but as I got older, I didn’t care much for traveling. I enjoyed people more than places I saw and after awhile, I just had no care for traveling for the sake of just traveling. I had heard about this Ghana trip awhile ago and thought ok maybe this will be a good experience, plus I wouldn’t have to do the work of finding a place for my externship. After this trip, I have appreciated traveling more. I used to think people who traveled could use their time better by using it for people than for pleasure, but after seeing how I grew from it and how I may view life with more perspective, I think I was too quick to judge in the past. Of course traveling at the cost of commitment and responsibility for your more permanent place is probably not good.

I already had to write two papers for school about Ghana, but I wanted to write here a more personal reflection than just how the trip related to articles or even occupational therapy. I learned many things from my peers which I am thankful for too. When I think about Ghana, I think about how small I am. Being on the other side of the world reminded me of how big the world is. I see pictures of other countries through the Internet, but it is such a distant thing that reality and movies have the same effect on me. Going on this trip, I felt like I was part of something bigger than me. (If you’ve been on missions trips like Taiwan missions, it feels like that) It’s interesting because we try to have control in our lives, but to be a small part of something big is humbling yet delightful. It was nice not having Internet and limited phone access for those two weeks. I miss those days where our brains weren’t controlled by the sound of a text message or when there’s down time we wouldn’t simply fill our minds with quick thoughtless pictures. I miss those days when I would meditate on Scripture or pray when I walked to class or was in my room with not much to do. I miss how we would treasure face-to-face conversations. I spent many hours with my classmates at meal time, sitting on benches under the trees, laying on our beds, but I never felt socially awkward, silence was ok, we didn’t have our own agendas and responsibilities to take care of that prioritized over spending time with others. It was just refreshing.

I also thought about the Ghanaian culture of community. Children helped one another by pushing another’s wheelchair, feeding those who need help, and being a leader. I was conflicted as being an American OT, we seek to help others independence. Yet I want to help too. A boy had fallen and he looked around, I thought in my head whether to help him or is he seeking for attention when he should learn how to stand up. If I weren’t an OT, didn’t care about independence but just to help, I would’ve rushed to help him up. In the end, my classmate helped him. Sometimes I worry children will be spoiled as others offer assistance. But they weren’t spoiled and didn’t take advantage of this sort of thing. They had a sense of community that wasn’t selfish. I mean I do not know their hearts, but it appeared so.

The first Saturday we were there, we took the children to the beach. What delight they had in their faces! They love just the simple things, not complaining about not having things their way. Of course they are not perfect innocent children. Some of their sinful side is revealed.. but one of my classmates observed that there was something different about them than children we may see in the States. She observed that there was a love, a source that sustains them. We believe it is God working in them.

There was one occasion a girl and I were sitting at the curb at the basketball courts. I was trying to be an occupational therapist by having her draw, to work on her fine motor skills. She got a little lazy with the sidewalk chalk and asked me to draw. I asked her what she wanted me to draw. She said, “God.” I chuckled and said hmm ok, I’ll draw Jesus. And He was basically a stick figure. Then we talked about Jesus and what the cross was. We talked about God’s greatness and used the bridge illustration of how the cross connects us to God. And if that was all I did on the trip, it was worth it for that moment

I enjoyed the time with my classmates. I did not have expectations with how my relationships would be like there, but it was fun and a blessing to think through things together. We together became more in awe of God. Sometimes when I think of the highlight Ghana, I think of just those relationships built and them drawing nearer to God. It was so sweet and it brings me a simple child-like joy.

Lastly for this post, I have learned that God is everywhere. God’s creation is beautiful. We saw more of Him in the children and in creation where there was less distraction from the world. A friend had wonder in the clouds of Ghana. Then when she came back to the states and looked to the sky, she said she saw the same cloud! Ok it probably wasn’t the same cloud, but she meant it in that God is here as well. It takes more effort to take the distractions away, but God is here. God is everywhere. God is with us on our journeys. I have had to adjust to traveling a number of times – LA, the Bay Area, Taiwan, and now Ghana. It is always difficult to leave people, close people, having to take experiences to new places alone… but God is everywhere and He has been with me at all times. Circumstances and places may change, but God doesn’t and He knows me.

I guess this actually will be the last thing I say. But I went to Ghana knowing I would leave 2 weeks later. I’ve been to Joni and Friends and other trips where I knew I had to say ‘bye’. So I just figured I’ll come in, do my OT thing, then go out. I didn’t want to put my emotions or affections and be aching with that missing feeling. Thankfully I am growing in that it is less difficult, but I am thankful that God did put that affection in me. Thankful that He allowed me to love upon these children and feel this heart for children with disabilities.