Becoming Human

I would like to first thank all of you who have played a big part in encouraging me to this point.  These ideas are certainly not my own and are a result of MANY God inspired conversations and relationships that have developed over the last four or five months.  Some from old friends, and some from people I had only known for hours…  I am so grateful for you all. 

Many of you may know of my plans to travel to Central and South America in January.  What simply started as a dream of mine has been completely transformed by God into something bigger than I could have ever imagined.  While I will still be “traveling”, I have been challenged to trust that God’s plans for me are much better than my own… and if I just let God be God, He will use me and my passions to do great things. 

That brings me to where I am now.  During my travels, I plan to encourage various missionaries and ministries who are committed to serving in their various countries for an extended period of time.  If there is a “need” to be met, I plan to help raise support for those needs.  They may or may not require me actually carrying them out, but I hope to encourage in any way possible.  Lastly, in addition to helping serve and learning first hand about different languages and culture, this pilgrimage is about much more.  Through my experiences and relationships formed a long the way, I hope to further understand what it means to be human, and what our responsibilities to humanity are. 

I know this question sounds incredibly vague, that is because it is…  I am not hoping to find a single right answer, but hopefully gain perspective from all walks of life on the simple subject of being human.  What does it mean to be human, what inspires us, what drives us, what are our goals, what are our responsibilities as humans?  These are just a few questions that have been occupying my mind in some form for several months now. 

After multiple conversations that have been nothing less than God inspired, I believe that God is using young people to challenge and shape culture.  This world needs people in all walks of life, in each generation, to challenge the way we are expected to live life.  Not everyone is called to live simply, but everyone is called to something bigger than what we know or what we are told; climbing the corporate ladder, collecting material possessions, or saving up for a comfortable retirement.  Please do not confuse these words for me saying that possessions or savings are bad, they aren’t.  However we do not need multiple cars, we do not need TV’s in every room, we do not need clothes for every day of the year. 

In searching for what it means to be human, regardless of spiritual beliefs, I believe that we will find our ability to feel, discern, plan for the future, comes with a responsibility to help those who are not as fortunate as ourselves.  It may not be that everyone needs a financial donation, or medical relief…  maybe some of us need to remember that we should be more intentional about what we say.  And when we ask someone, “How are you?” we should care enough to listen to what they have to say. 

Honestly, I do not know what it means to be human…  I believe I am asking an age old question that will require an incredible amount of time and research to even begin to understand what our responsibilities to humanity are, probably more time than I will ever know. 

So here is my invitation to you; whether I have sent you this link asking for your assistance, or if you have simply stumbled across this post accidentally, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and input on any of the following questions about becoming human.

·      What does it mean to be human?

·      What are our responsibilities as humans to humanity, if any?

·      What drives us, what inspires us as humans?

·      Maybe you have a question of your own that you’d like to start looking into, I encourage you to share it.

There is no right or wrong answer; answers can be based on the physical, mental, social, psychological, metaphysical, spiritual, or even none of the aforementioned concepts. Feel free to pull from personal experience and even include references to literature and other helpful resources.  I do not have any expectations of what I will find, but I assure you that anything I receive will be shared with all of you...  

Thanks to all for your taking the time to read these thoughts, and for sharing in this journey of becoming human.   

-Called to love-

Please feel free post responses as comments or e-mail them to me at:
pbandcy@gmail.com

1 John 3:16-18

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down or lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Unintentional Love

I Corinthians 13: 6

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Plainly put, culturally we struggle with the intent of what we say.  It is acceptable to say things that sound good before we have any real intention of following through.  We see this so much in relationships (both with family, friends, and loved ones) that we’ve become numb to the fact that love is supposed to be built on truth.  Love rejoices with the truth.

How do you feel when those closest to you make intentional statements, such as promises, and then cancel because of other more important things?  Has someone ever told you that they are going to come visit you, and they never do?  Or more simple, what about when we tell someone you will call them, and don’t?  I know that everyone has experienced this feeling in some form, but should it be that way?

We are a culture that says the intentional, with no immediate intention of carrying out such actions.  While it seems so minor, and some would argue that it is not even being dishonest, my argument is that it is not truth.

Friendships:  “Hey bro, we need to hang out soon.  Let’s make this happen…  I’ll call you.”

But you don’t.

Relationships:  “I’ll come visit this weekend (if there isn’t anything more important that might pop up).  I’ll swing by after work (if I finish everything I have to get done).  I’m going to make you something… “

Only say these things if you truly wish to follow through with them.

I will be the first to say it; I still do this way to often.  In fact, I do it a lot less than I used to.  However, this careless unintentionality can be incredibly destructive when trying to fully love others with the love of Christ.  Let us swallow our pride, and our need to say what sounds best, and speak out of nothing but love that rejoices in truth. 

Why?  Is it really that destructive?

Yes, it is that destructive. In fact, it is the only kind of love that many people know.  They expect love to not follow through.  People become okay to the fact that those closest to them do not keep promises.  They see Christians who wish to share Jesus with others, but their inconsistency is hurting their witness. 

In my entire life, there has only been one “constant”.  God.  He has always followed through, and he has shown me what it means when love rejoices in the truth.  Yet, we fail to share this love with others because of the inconsistency between our words and our actions.  I understand that we are imperfect people, and we will disappoint.  But there is only one way to share this kind of love; to love other’s like Christ we must strive to imitate the love of Christ.  In all of history, Christ’s example of love is the single most consistent example of truth.  Whatever he said, he did.  In fact, Pastor Wayne Cordeiro said it best when describing Jesus’ intentionality, “What He said was who He was.”

Brothers and sisters, this means that in all relationships (family, friends, and loved ones) one of the greatest ways to show the love of Christ is to be true to your word.  Be careful with what you commit to.  And when you commit, be sure you follow through.  This is where love will rejoice. 

Supplemental Readings-

James 5:12

Above all, my brothers, do not swear- not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.  Let your 'Yes' be your yes and your 'No,' no, or you will be condemned.

Matthew 5:37

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

The Divine Mentor, Wayne Cordiero

Chapter 9, “Oak All the Way to the Core”