Urgent Need Request - Helping a Katrina find Dignity at Long Last
- a ministry update of Rebirth International - by Mo Leverett
Her story is one of the many stories of the ongoing struggle of post-Katrina New Orleans. For the sake of those involved, I’ll call her Mrs. Welch. It began like this:
Mrs. Welch grew up in Desire. Life in Desire is its own kind of storm. Everyday was a pushing against the pressure of poverty, crime, drugs violence and disintegration. It was a contending with broken families, schools and churches. It was a place that hope had long since abandoned.
Then came Katrina. She was stuck in the storm. She fled the rising flood carrying only a phone book pressed against her chest, hoping that someone might be able to find her and call her daughter.
(Her daughter was one of the first to come to Christ during our ministry in Desire and certainly one of the most endeared of all. She became a spiritual mentor and friend to her mother. As a result, Mrs. Welch began to walk with the Lord in a new-found intimacy and sincerity.)
She was found unconscious in New Orleans some three and a half weeks after the storm, and was helicoptered to a hospital in Baton Rouge. The details have come to me sparsely - I don’t understand them completely. But some hardworking social worker began to go down the list of numbers in the phone book and eventually found Mrs. Welch’s daughter who was some number of states away worried sick and had assumed the worst. She was overjoyed that her mother was still alive! But her health was declining and her body had absorbed a significant blow. FEMA helped her relocate to a town over 500 miles from New Orleans. Separated from her family, friends and community, she only got worse.
The stress of Katrina led to a failing heart, as well as many other physical ailments. She finally fell victim to a new and intense round of depression, and her body finally gave way. She is now three states away, in a town morgue where no one knows her.
Then I receive a phone call for help from her sweet daughter - and my daughter in the Lord. I’ve offered as much as I possibly can. She has asked to have Mrs. Welch buried in the city of New Orleans, which was her request. However, the transport costs of $3,900 which includes preparing the body for transport, are more than she can handle. Her request is for the dignity of her mother after so much personal suffering. I let her know what I was able to contribute through the thin resources at Rebirth and the Leverett family. But she also gave me permission to let all of you know of this special and urgent need.
If you feel moved to help, let me know immediately. I am more than honored to facilitate your generosity towards this urgent need. Thanks in advance for all your help!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Praying for Mountain Brook Community Church
God’s plans and workings are always mega-dimensional in nature and go well beyond our own conscious awareness of them. And so when I pray for instance for Mountain Brook Community Church, where I had the opportunity and privilege of serving as their keynote speaker during their first annual local missions conference, I am encouraged that God’s response to my prayer is much greater and wider than my capacity to articulate or imagine. Nevertheless, I do pray for them, that God might bestow them with blessing upon blessing for their kindness towards me and their generosity towards Rebirth.
One precious lady told me that she’s been following my ministry from the early days and just sensed the discouragement I must be experiencing in post-Katrina New Orleans, and so, she has prayed for me every day since. I can’t imagine that any person would desire to pray for me at all, wretched rascal that I am, but the fact that she never really even knew me and yet brought me before God’s throne consistently means more than I can begin to describe. And so I pray that the Lord bless her and answer her prayers, even for me.
The Lightfoot family extended wonderful hospitality to me and were a great encouragement - they scored big time with a dinner of fish and grits! That’s way better than the Red Roof Inn, let me tell ya! The entire local missions committee were so gracious and bent over backwards for me during my stay. And thanks to Pastor Tim for the comfort of his couch! And so I pray that God would grant them their heart’s desires in their city.
Those who came to my concert were so kind. I’m not sure I’d give up a night with my family to go hear a Mo Leverett concert, and actually I’m quite sure I wouldn’t, but it meant the world to me for so many to have made that sacrifice. And so I ask God to tend to the safety, security and prosperity of their families.
I will pray for the supported ministries of Mountain Brook like the Foundry, which assists individuals to recover from addictions, pointing them to Christ, Who is the only One in this life worth becoming addicted to. I’ll pray blessing and increase for Restoration Academy and Cornerstone Schools, both who are serving an amazing group of kids, but whose families could never afford the stellar education that they deliver. I’ll pray for the Sav-a-life organizations as they advocate for the most vulnerable and minister to ladies who need to hear of God’s delirious love for them. I’ll pray for God’s blessing on the Medical Missions group that is supplying missionaries with medical equipment. I’ll pray for the alliance of churches in West Birmingham, that God will bring much community transformation out of their partnership with one another. I’ll pray for FCA, that God would help them to reach the athletes of this great city to become the type leaders that honor Christ. I’ll pray for UCF, which may be the coolest campus ministries I’ve ever seen, that God will replicate this ministry template across the world.
For all those I met, I pray that God would renew you so that you become a source and conduit of renewal for others. Thank you again for the privilege of being with you. I hope that we will continue to co-labor for our Lord in the years to come for the sake of His glory!
One precious lady told me that she’s been following my ministry from the early days and just sensed the discouragement I must be experiencing in post-Katrina New Orleans, and so, she has prayed for me every day since. I can’t imagine that any person would desire to pray for me at all, wretched rascal that I am, but the fact that she never really even knew me and yet brought me before God’s throne consistently means more than I can begin to describe. And so I pray that the Lord bless her and answer her prayers, even for me.
The Lightfoot family extended wonderful hospitality to me and were a great encouragement - they scored big time with a dinner of fish and grits! That’s way better than the Red Roof Inn, let me tell ya! The entire local missions committee were so gracious and bent over backwards for me during my stay. And thanks to Pastor Tim for the comfort of his couch! And so I pray that God would grant them their heart’s desires in their city.
Those who came to my concert were so kind. I’m not sure I’d give up a night with my family to go hear a Mo Leverett concert, and actually I’m quite sure I wouldn’t, but it meant the world to me for so many to have made that sacrifice. And so I ask God to tend to the safety, security and prosperity of their families.
I will pray for the supported ministries of Mountain Brook like the Foundry, which assists individuals to recover from addictions, pointing them to Christ, Who is the only One in this life worth becoming addicted to. I’ll pray blessing and increase for Restoration Academy and Cornerstone Schools, both who are serving an amazing group of kids, but whose families could never afford the stellar education that they deliver. I’ll pray for the Sav-a-life organizations as they advocate for the most vulnerable and minister to ladies who need to hear of God’s delirious love for them. I’ll pray for God’s blessing on the Medical Missions group that is supplying missionaries with medical equipment. I’ll pray for the alliance of churches in West Birmingham, that God will bring much community transformation out of their partnership with one another. I’ll pray for FCA, that God would help them to reach the athletes of this great city to become the type leaders that honor Christ. I’ll pray for UCF, which may be the coolest campus ministries I’ve ever seen, that God will replicate this ministry template across the world.
For all those I met, I pray that God would renew you so that you become a source and conduit of renewal for others. Thank you again for the privilege of being with you. I hope that we will continue to co-labor for our Lord in the years to come for the sake of His glory!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Building a Family a Home for the Mission of God
I’m in my portable office - my trusty Toyota Corolla - in front of a vacant lot that my wife has identified through prayerful search as the potential new Leverett’s family home site. I am joining her in prayer and soliciting yours at the same time.
The lot is near the corner of St. Bernard Ave and Mirabeau. It is just a little ways down from the St. Bernard housing project of New Orleans, close to City Park and not far from the University of New Orleans. It is very close to I-610 which puts us within a hop, skip and a jump to just about every part of the city. There is a gentle breeze, a hint of the oncoming autumn air passing through my vehicle. The faint sounds of construction off in the distance signal the ongoing recovery effort in this area. I am resting in the assurance of God’s sovereign purpose for our family and praying…
In my last report to you guys I conveyed my rather busy traveling schedule. I hoped this crowded schedule would remind you of our commitment to the cause, but I know for some it inspired concern for the precious Leverett family which I am primarily called to shepherd. And so I thought I’d give you a fuller update on the status of the Leveretts as we together pursue the next phase of our lives in ministry.
Ellen has taken a part-time job in the afternoons in the after-care program at St. George’s Episcopal School where Maggie and Manning are attending. She is doing this in order to help defray the cost of educating our kids. She is also home schooling Lacey this year and getting some individual tutoring for herself in sign-language, which outside of being the engineer of the Leverett household, is her other passion and interest. I do a second-rate job of managing the routine in her absence on Wednesday nights when she is with her tutor. Her e-mail address is ellenleverett@hotmail.com and I know she would be encouraged to hear from any or all of you.
Lindsay, my oldest daughter is becoming a young adult. She’ll be driving in the not too distant future and is showing signs of maturity in all areas of her life. We’re even beginning to have conversations about college. She has been a central part of my ministry over the years and has internalized such a huge part of my heart for the urban struggle. She has agreed to write an article for our website regarding our mutual interest in the football program at Clark High School, where I am volunteer coaching the special teams. If you’ve seen the movie Remember the Titans, the curly-haired daughter of the Coach is just like my Lindsay, who I affectionately call Dee Dee Brown! She’s also a good athlete in her own rite, but has struggled with shoulder injuries and shin splints. I will be picking her up in an hour as she insists on attending all the practices at Clark High School with me.
My daughter Lacey, also called La La, or Ooo La La, is going through self-discovery issues and has been the most visibly hurt by our departure from the 9th ward. Our ministry there was so much a part of her life that it is painful for her even to talk about, yet we are working on moving forward from here. She’s struggled with migraine headaches and so homeschooling is giving her reprieve to pursue her education at her pace without the pressure that early morning school schedules seem to be for her. She despises living on the West Bank of New Orleans and is very much looking forward to a move. I was able to coach her in Cabbage Ball and Softball this Spring and she became a very valuable asset to the team and demonstrated the most personal improvement. I’m teaching Lacey to play the guitar and she and I are working on a mission project together, as well. She is an aspiring poet and artist.
I attended Maggie’s, or Mags-a-million’s, first volleyball game yesterday. She started and played every point of all three games. She’s likely to be the tallest of all my girls, who all tower over their mother! She is a talented artist and brings that artist perspective to all of life. She’s a bit silly, loves to laugh and to play games on my computer. She makes excellent grades and endears herself to everyone she meets. She and I are due for a Daddy date soon!
Manning, or Manny Man, is my only son. I’m coaching his football team in his first season this year. I can’t begin to tell you how excited he is to be out there. After I bought his equipment that first night, he slept in it! He talks about football without ceasing. I love him so much. He’s smart, athletic but most gentle. When someone is hurting within the family he’s very caring and sensitive and offers himself for comfort. He loves math and science and thus may become my best hope for a retirement plan!
I just wanted all of you to know how much I treasure this family. As soon as our support is raised I very much intend to resume a more rational schedule. Please pray for me. There’s a significant difference between the ages of 42 and 25, the age I was when I launched Desire Street Ministries. Back then, I had boundless energy, few responsibilities and no children. This time around is different. Please feel free to forward information on to others who might want to help us redevelop ministry in the city of New Orleans, resource other urban ministries and churches and replicate incarnational urban ministry stateside and worldwide. We are committed and are asking for your prayer and help!
The lot is near the corner of St. Bernard Ave and Mirabeau. It is just a little ways down from the St. Bernard housing project of New Orleans, close to City Park and not far from the University of New Orleans. It is very close to I-610 which puts us within a hop, skip and a jump to just about every part of the city. There is a gentle breeze, a hint of the oncoming autumn air passing through my vehicle. The faint sounds of construction off in the distance signal the ongoing recovery effort in this area. I am resting in the assurance of God’s sovereign purpose for our family and praying…
In my last report to you guys I conveyed my rather busy traveling schedule. I hoped this crowded schedule would remind you of our commitment to the cause, but I know for some it inspired concern for the precious Leverett family which I am primarily called to shepherd. And so I thought I’d give you a fuller update on the status of the Leveretts as we together pursue the next phase of our lives in ministry.
Ellen has taken a part-time job in the afternoons in the after-care program at St. George’s Episcopal School where Maggie and Manning are attending. She is doing this in order to help defray the cost of educating our kids. She is also home schooling Lacey this year and getting some individual tutoring for herself in sign-language, which outside of being the engineer of the Leverett household, is her other passion and interest. I do a second-rate job of managing the routine in her absence on Wednesday nights when she is with her tutor. Her e-mail address is ellenleverett@hotmail.com and I know she would be encouraged to hear from any or all of you.
Lindsay, my oldest daughter is becoming a young adult. She’ll be driving in the not too distant future and is showing signs of maturity in all areas of her life. We’re even beginning to have conversations about college. She has been a central part of my ministry over the years and has internalized such a huge part of my heart for the urban struggle. She has agreed to write an article for our website regarding our mutual interest in the football program at Clark High School, where I am volunteer coaching the special teams. If you’ve seen the movie Remember the Titans, the curly-haired daughter of the Coach is just like my Lindsay, who I affectionately call Dee Dee Brown! She’s also a good athlete in her own rite, but has struggled with shoulder injuries and shin splints. I will be picking her up in an hour as she insists on attending all the practices at Clark High School with me.
My daughter Lacey, also called La La, or Ooo La La, is going through self-discovery issues and has been the most visibly hurt by our departure from the 9th ward. Our ministry there was so much a part of her life that it is painful for her even to talk about, yet we are working on moving forward from here. She’s struggled with migraine headaches and so homeschooling is giving her reprieve to pursue her education at her pace without the pressure that early morning school schedules seem to be for her. She despises living on the West Bank of New Orleans and is very much looking forward to a move. I was able to coach her in Cabbage Ball and Softball this Spring and she became a very valuable asset to the team and demonstrated the most personal improvement. I’m teaching Lacey to play the guitar and she and I are working on a mission project together, as well. She is an aspiring poet and artist.
I attended Maggie’s, or Mags-a-million’s, first volleyball game yesterday. She started and played every point of all three games. She’s likely to be the tallest of all my girls, who all tower over their mother! She is a talented artist and brings that artist perspective to all of life. She’s a bit silly, loves to laugh and to play games on my computer. She makes excellent grades and endears herself to everyone she meets. She and I are due for a Daddy date soon!
Manning, or Manny Man, is my only son. I’m coaching his football team in his first season this year. I can’t begin to tell you how excited he is to be out there. After I bought his equipment that first night, he slept in it! He talks about football without ceasing. I love him so much. He’s smart, athletic but most gentle. When someone is hurting within the family he’s very caring and sensitive and offers himself for comfort. He loves math and science and thus may become my best hope for a retirement plan!
I just wanted all of you to know how much I treasure this family. As soon as our support is raised I very much intend to resume a more rational schedule. Please pray for me. There’s a significant difference between the ages of 42 and 25, the age I was when I launched Desire Street Ministries. Back then, I had boundless energy, few responsibilities and no children. This time around is different. Please feel free to forward information on to others who might want to help us redevelop ministry in the city of New Orleans, resource other urban ministries and churches and replicate incarnational urban ministry stateside and worldwide. We are committed and are asking for your prayer and help!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Update
Dear friends,
I am doing right now, (and with my wife's blessing by the way), what I had planned not to do. I am traveling. I am traveling a lot.
Just recently I've been in Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Brookhaven, Gainesville, Valdosta, Macon and Atlanta. I'll be in Birmingham this weekend. I'll be in Chicago the next. I'll be in Orlando the week after. I'll take a couple of weekends off and then travel to the Northeast to speak to a group of students from Harvard, Yale and other Ivy Leaguers. And then I'll round off November with an engagement to speak to a church from Augusta at a retreat in the North Georgia Mountains. (My schedule is blank in December by the way, in case anyone might want to book me, or otherwise desires to send support to keep me at home!)
Ellen and I just had a lengthy conversation about our lives. It was good. But we've endured much in the past few years - like 17 Years of front line urban ministry in one of the nations most challenging communities. Then came a hurricane...the loss of all our possessions...a rough patch in our love affair..the departure from the ministry that I founded and dearly love, not to mention the immense stress, pain, disappointment and anger that severance caused.
We've also experienced much healing though, much confirmation of love and much joy in reflecting on God's restorative faithfulness. And we want and pray for the second phase of our ministry lives to be more meaningful, more beautiful, more fruitful, more impacting and more glorifying to God than was the first.
And so, I reluctantly travel. Partly to invite others to participate and partner with us in this next phase, partly to continue to inspire others to follow Christ in healing and redemptive ministries among the poor wherever they are, and partly to pay the bills.
But we were thinking tonight. We're thinking and praying about putting our West Bank house on the market, considering purchasing a lot back on the east bank of New Orleans and hoping to build a new house for the Leverett's there - reestablishing ourselves in ministry in the heart of the city that we love and have been called to serve.
The city presents so many new and wonderful opportunities. In whatever sphere you can imagine there are exciting yet daunting challenges - whether in the fields of housing, education, church planting, economic development or any other part of urban revitalization, the truth is, New Orleans is where it is at. There is the possibility that our strategies for rebirth in New Orleans would have implications for urban renewal throughout our entire country. Our experiments will be considered and studied by many throughout academia and government halls. It is an opportunity for the church to do more than provide relief but to lead in rebirth initiatives. Thus, the idea I am now calling, The Center for Rebirth.
While this concept is still seminal, we're thinking that all of the expertise that we've harnessed over the years could be critically important to the rebirth of our city and other pockets of poverty, as well. And rather than me traveling so dog gone much, why not develop a center where we can invite and facilitate the gathering, inspiring, training and commissioning of persons into ministry in this city and well beyond it? The Center would be a place that could inspire incarnational works among the poor in every county in our nation, every continent in our world as well as every community in our city. The center could help to reawaken the church to God's heart for the brokenhearted. And the center might rekindle within the heart of the church God's passion for the poor as well as promote effective and proven strategies for transformation and hope. The Center might facilitate many great works that would provide a foundation for rebirth in this great city and beyond.
We are trusting God to continue to provide for us and to lead us in the way we should go. Will you pray for us as well and tell us what you think?
Going deeper,
Mo Leverett
I am doing right now, (and with my wife's blessing by the way), what I had planned not to do. I am traveling. I am traveling a lot.
Just recently I've been in Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Brookhaven, Gainesville, Valdosta, Macon and Atlanta. I'll be in Birmingham this weekend. I'll be in Chicago the next. I'll be in Orlando the week after. I'll take a couple of weekends off and then travel to the Northeast to speak to a group of students from Harvard, Yale and other Ivy Leaguers. And then I'll round off November with an engagement to speak to a church from Augusta at a retreat in the North Georgia Mountains. (My schedule is blank in December by the way, in case anyone might want to book me, or otherwise desires to send support to keep me at home!)
Ellen and I just had a lengthy conversation about our lives. It was good. But we've endured much in the past few years - like 17 Years of front line urban ministry in one of the nations most challenging communities. Then came a hurricane...the loss of all our possessions...a rough patch in our love affair..the departure from the ministry that I founded and dearly love, not to mention the immense stress, pain, disappointment and anger that severance caused.
We've also experienced much healing though, much confirmation of love and much joy in reflecting on God's restorative faithfulness. And we want and pray for the second phase of our ministry lives to be more meaningful, more beautiful, more fruitful, more impacting and more glorifying to God than was the first.
And so, I reluctantly travel. Partly to invite others to participate and partner with us in this next phase, partly to continue to inspire others to follow Christ in healing and redemptive ministries among the poor wherever they are, and partly to pay the bills.
But we were thinking tonight. We're thinking and praying about putting our West Bank house on the market, considering purchasing a lot back on the east bank of New Orleans and hoping to build a new house for the Leverett's there - reestablishing ourselves in ministry in the heart of the city that we love and have been called to serve.
The city presents so many new and wonderful opportunities. In whatever sphere you can imagine there are exciting yet daunting challenges - whether in the fields of housing, education, church planting, economic development or any other part of urban revitalization, the truth is, New Orleans is where it is at. There is the possibility that our strategies for rebirth in New Orleans would have implications for urban renewal throughout our entire country. Our experiments will be considered and studied by many throughout academia and government halls. It is an opportunity for the church to do more than provide relief but to lead in rebirth initiatives. Thus, the idea I am now calling, The Center for Rebirth.
While this concept is still seminal, we're thinking that all of the expertise that we've harnessed over the years could be critically important to the rebirth of our city and other pockets of poverty, as well. And rather than me traveling so dog gone much, why not develop a center where we can invite and facilitate the gathering, inspiring, training and commissioning of persons into ministry in this city and well beyond it? The Center would be a place that could inspire incarnational works among the poor in every county in our nation, every continent in our world as well as every community in our city. The center could help to reawaken the church to God's heart for the brokenhearted. And the center might rekindle within the heart of the church God's passion for the poor as well as promote effective and proven strategies for transformation and hope. The Center might facilitate many great works that would provide a foundation for rebirth in this great city and beyond.
We are trusting God to continue to provide for us and to lead us in the way we should go. Will you pray for us as well and tell us what you think?
Going deeper,
Mo Leverett
Friday, September 7, 2007
The Culture of the Rubber Glove
The scriptures are vast, deep and wider than can be explored fully in the scope of one’s natural life. As such, I find myself camping out in familiar places. There are certain passages that have become for me life passages - places of scripture that I go to regularly or rather come to me at peculiar times. This morning I woke thinking of the story of Christ’s encounter with the Leper. Not sure why this passage has always been one that feeds my soul, but it does, regularly.
In Luke 4, it begins, “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who as covered with leprosy.”
And of course we can imagine the scene. Here comes this guy who is visibly…not well. Not well at all. His appearance is so disgusting and the fear of infection so great among the crowds that we, if we were there, would be ill-advised to remain in close proximity. So we, like all the others, scatter. If we do not leave the scene altogether, we place ourselves at a significantly safer distance. No one wants to become sick.
While wellness on this side of the Jordan is illusory at best, advocating for it has become the high-pitched craze of our culture today. Certain individuals become so consumed with this trend that they become self-appointed ambassadors of the cause - the notorious, yet volunteer health police. A man tries to lose weight by drinking low-calorie drinks only to be lectured about the ill-effects of aspartame and sodium. You can’t drink a glass of old fashioned homogenized milk without the fat brigade looking at you funny. Everyday there is a new report that regular activity is dangerous, normal foods are deadly, certain necessary medicines are cancer-causing poisons. Educators seem the most eager to jump on the wellness bandwagon, and our children become the convenient emissaries of the crusade. Sometimes I hate to see them coming. Daddy, you know that cigars will kill you don’t you Daddy! Dad, cheeseburgers will kill you! Daddy, you know that fried food is bad for you. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy…and fill in the blank.
Sick people these days thus are not looked at sympathetically. Sick people, often, are getting what they deserve. If only they had done this, that or the other, they wouldn’t be in this condition. Or if only they had abstained from this, that or the other they wouldn’t be ill. But let’s open our eyes. While healthy eating may contribute to a longer life, and I am not to be mistaken for making a theological case for my appreciation for the finer qualities of fast-food, we nevertheless all die. Each and everyone of us. Sickness catches up with all of us at some point and escorts us mercilessly to the grave, despite the volume of asparagus we may choose or fail to consume.
So we, if we were caught up in this story, would have admittedly been the first to flee. And the least likely to stick around during this person’s cry for help. We do not want to be around those who are sick. And most certainly not around those with infectious and terminal diseases. We are the culture of the rubber glove. We do not want our hands dirtied with the sicknesses of this world. And so we back-peddle. We retreat. But we do so at great cost to ourselves. Keep reading.Jesus did not retreat. By standing there, Jesus not only communicated that He was willing to risk infection on behalf of this man, but the fact that He did so serves as a metaphor of His willingness to internalize our infection and restore us all to the true state of health.
The more that I ruminate on the human condition and the older I get, the more I realize that there are only two types of people in this world. There are those who are not well. And then, there are those who know they are not well. The good fortune of this leper is that he knew how bad off he was. He knew that he was sick. He knew he needed help. The crowd of people who retreated were suffering with a much more deadly disease - the delusion that they were well. But Jesus knew they were sick. He knows that we, down to the last person, are deeply diseased.
There were many people in the crowd that day. But only one was touched by Jesus. It was the one who knew he was not well. If everyone there was thinking soberly, they would have all clasped the arms of the leper and proclaimed in unison with him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” They would have identified themselves with the leper. And they would have felt the touch of Jesus!
Moreover, those of us who fail to see our own sickness thus see ourselves in relationship with the world in a skewed way. We are tempted to see ourselves as somehow better than the bum in the street or the single-parent in the project. If the church saw things rightly there would be a flood of missionaries in the streets identifying with the least and the lost. If the church saw things rightly, we would peel off our rubber gloves, roll up our sleeves and become like Jesus: touching the untouchable and changing the world!Lord help me to identify the leprosy within, so that I might experience afresh the healing touch of Jesus. And Lord make my hands willing to also touch the sickness of this world, so that I might be with Jesus in the ongoing work in His name!
by Mo LeverettRebirth International
In Luke 4, it begins, “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who as covered with leprosy.”
And of course we can imagine the scene. Here comes this guy who is visibly…not well. Not well at all. His appearance is so disgusting and the fear of infection so great among the crowds that we, if we were there, would be ill-advised to remain in close proximity. So we, like all the others, scatter. If we do not leave the scene altogether, we place ourselves at a significantly safer distance. No one wants to become sick.
While wellness on this side of the Jordan is illusory at best, advocating for it has become the high-pitched craze of our culture today. Certain individuals become so consumed with this trend that they become self-appointed ambassadors of the cause - the notorious, yet volunteer health police. A man tries to lose weight by drinking low-calorie drinks only to be lectured about the ill-effects of aspartame and sodium. You can’t drink a glass of old fashioned homogenized milk without the fat brigade looking at you funny. Everyday there is a new report that regular activity is dangerous, normal foods are deadly, certain necessary medicines are cancer-causing poisons. Educators seem the most eager to jump on the wellness bandwagon, and our children become the convenient emissaries of the crusade. Sometimes I hate to see them coming. Daddy, you know that cigars will kill you don’t you Daddy! Dad, cheeseburgers will kill you! Daddy, you know that fried food is bad for you. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy…and fill in the blank.
Sick people these days thus are not looked at sympathetically. Sick people, often, are getting what they deserve. If only they had done this, that or the other, they wouldn’t be in this condition. Or if only they had abstained from this, that or the other they wouldn’t be ill. But let’s open our eyes. While healthy eating may contribute to a longer life, and I am not to be mistaken for making a theological case for my appreciation for the finer qualities of fast-food, we nevertheless all die. Each and everyone of us. Sickness catches up with all of us at some point and escorts us mercilessly to the grave, despite the volume of asparagus we may choose or fail to consume.
So we, if we were caught up in this story, would have admittedly been the first to flee. And the least likely to stick around during this person’s cry for help. We do not want to be around those who are sick. And most certainly not around those with infectious and terminal diseases. We are the culture of the rubber glove. We do not want our hands dirtied with the sicknesses of this world. And so we back-peddle. We retreat. But we do so at great cost to ourselves. Keep reading.Jesus did not retreat. By standing there, Jesus not only communicated that He was willing to risk infection on behalf of this man, but the fact that He did so serves as a metaphor of His willingness to internalize our infection and restore us all to the true state of health.
The more that I ruminate on the human condition and the older I get, the more I realize that there are only two types of people in this world. There are those who are not well. And then, there are those who know they are not well. The good fortune of this leper is that he knew how bad off he was. He knew that he was sick. He knew he needed help. The crowd of people who retreated were suffering with a much more deadly disease - the delusion that they were well. But Jesus knew they were sick. He knows that we, down to the last person, are deeply diseased.
There were many people in the crowd that day. But only one was touched by Jesus. It was the one who knew he was not well. If everyone there was thinking soberly, they would have all clasped the arms of the leper and proclaimed in unison with him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” They would have identified themselves with the leper. And they would have felt the touch of Jesus!
Moreover, those of us who fail to see our own sickness thus see ourselves in relationship with the world in a skewed way. We are tempted to see ourselves as somehow better than the bum in the street or the single-parent in the project. If the church saw things rightly there would be a flood of missionaries in the streets identifying with the least and the lost. If the church saw things rightly, we would peel off our rubber gloves, roll up our sleeves and become like Jesus: touching the untouchable and changing the world!Lord help me to identify the leprosy within, so that I might experience afresh the healing touch of Jesus. And Lord make my hands willing to also touch the sickness of this world, so that I might be with Jesus in the ongoing work in His name!
by Mo LeverettRebirth International
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