Since I have arrived home there has been a lot happen - the usual 'catch-up' game at work and at home - email, phone messages, chores, unending laundry, appointments, bills, decisions, family and friends............and then the unusual.......all kinds of things demanding my attention! Its hard to keep a calm approach to the pace of our Western lifestyle. Stepping out of my usual crazy pace was refreshing and taught me a lot. Part of it was that I didn't have the pressure of my 'normal' life since I was half a world away..........part of it was the intentional decision to slow my mind.......to breathe........to step back from the pace so I could gain a different perspective........to contemplate......to quiet the noise in my head and heart........to listen.......to feel.........to see.........to reflect. Its so easy to step away from that, to get caught up in all that is around me. What concerns me most about this is that I don't want to forget........I want to remember the people I met and their stories........
MCC is known to 'walk alongside' people.........respecting people and recognizing their need and ability for self-determination, being present but not directive. I saw this at work.....Joshua bringing community groups together for the common good as they built sand dams to benefit all of them.........Waihenya as he and his staff worked with the various ethnic groups in the telling of their stories and then passing on their forgiveness and peace......... Enock and his staff as they walk with the students from Menno Kids School and their families........ Maurice and his staff as they walk with those impacted by HIV/AIDS......
I have to admit that I am left wondering how 'walking alongside' translates into our culture.........we live in a very individualistic society where we find it difficult to share deeply or to expose our vulnerabilities. Perhaps it is because we don't have time or take time, perhaps it is because we are too concerned about 'how it would look', perhaps we are so preoccupied with life that we are not even aware of what it is we need........
Whatever the reason I believe we are missing something.........
MCC's previous mission statement stated, 'MCC serves as a channel for interchange by building mutually transformative relationships'. This resonates with me........mutually transformative - I am changed by walking alongside others and by allowing others to walk alongside me! I love this! When you read the New Testament stories of Jesus' life this image is so clear.......Jesus walked with his disciples, he listened and talked with them as they walked, he responded to needs that he saw and he was present in their everyday lives. Too often we only focus on what he taught or the miracles that he performed........... perhaps we need to examine the various journeys that he took with his disciples. I can imagine that a lot of transformation happened as they walked - Jesus was moved by the people he met and they were transformed by him.
The stories of our lives are sacred and holy but they cannot be transformative if they are not shared. So, it seems to me that the image of walking alongside one another is a deeply spiritual and meaningful way to live life, but it requires us to take a step back from our furiously paced lives and to be intentional about listening and sharing.
I believe we have much to learn from our brothers and sisters around the world. It is perhaps arrogant of us to believe that we are the ones that have everything to give to them. The people of Kenya have much to teach us and I want to continue to allow them to speak to me as I remember their stories...........
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