In many ways, Jessica Jackley reminded me of myself. Granted, I have not co-founded an incredible successful micro-lending website, nor do I have a Stanford MBA, nor have I travelled across the globe interacting with various cultures or educating people about micro-financing. What I did feel we had in common, however, was our characters. It seemed that, like me, Ms. Jackley had experienced an upbringing in a upper middle class Christian home, excelled in academics, and retained lofty philanthropic dreams. We also seemed to share a similar personality: extremely goal driven, outgoing, and energetic.
I do not list my supposed similarities with Ms. Jackley in order to flatter myself, but rather to illustrate that when I heard her speak, I processed her lecture on a more personal level. I was very impressed by her passion, drive, and commitment to helping the poor, and inspired that my dreams to further God’s kingdom could be accomplished like hers. However, something about her talk disturbed me. I couldn’t help but notice that when she spoke of her co-founder, Matthew Flannery, whom all our supplied literature referred to as her husband, she seemed unusually formal. These subtle cues caused me to research her current relationship with Mr. Flannery on the Internet, where I discovered that the couple had recently divorced. My personal association with Jessica Jackley caused me to feel sadness when I discovered this very personal, and likely, painful experience. I pictured myself: young, driven, successful, and in pursuit of my dreams, with such an experience to haunt me for the rest of my life.
I realize this association with Ms. Jackley is based on my limited impression of her from an one hour formal lecture, but somehow, I was forever impacted by her speech. As she described the heart-warming stories of Kiva, the organization’s success, and one of her new projects, I couldn’t help but question my own priorities. Like Ms. Jackley I desire to help the poor, achieve my goals, and attempt to “save the world,” but at what cost? I realized through this lecture that I would trade all of the successes of something such as Kiva in order to maintain a healthy relationship with the man I once fell in love with and married. I do not condemn Ms. Jackley or Mr. Flannery by any means, nor do I pretend to know anything about their personal lives together, but I am thankful that their experience made me realize this about myself. I cannot base my entire happiness on a marriage, nor do I intend to, and I believe that whether or not I am married I have a unique divine purpose to fulfill. However, I have recognized that, personally, my future priority is to invest first in my marriage and do everything possible to help, achieve, and save that sacred relationship. If divorce happens to befall me like it did Ms. Jackley and Mr. Flannery, I would hope that I possessed as much internal fortitude as Ms. Jackley so as to continue her God-given vocation with even greater passion.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Cal Who?
Earlier this week, to the shock and chagrin of many of my classmates, I announced that I did not know who Cal Ripken Jr. was. Peers would try to explain his accomplishments by saying things like, “He’s the ‘Iron Man’ of baseball,” or “He played 2,632 consecutive games,” neither of which contextualized his fame for me.
I blame this ignorance on my innate Canadian lack of knowledge concerning baseball, a primarily American sport, but, surprisingly, my ignorance did not impede my enjoyment of Ripken’s lecture. The content of his talk was highly motivational and applicable to all listeners, whether or not they happened to be baseball fans. If any person was qualified to speak about perseverance, it was Cal Ripken Jr. When I realized the incredible endurance required to play essentially one game per day for 162 days over the course of 19 years, I was dumbfounded. I struggle to attend classes for that many consecutive days, let alone physically exert myself! Ripken’s credibility in the area of endurance piqued my interest in his speech topic, namely the 8 requirements to being successful. These requirements seemed commonsensical and included things such as the right approach, the will to succeed, passion, competitiveness, consistency, conviction, strength, and life management. What I did not expect from Ripken’s talk, however, was his affability, humor and apparent passion for the game. It was clear that he truly believed in the principles he professed and was not merely interested in receiving some cash and accolades from a multitude of former fans. Another aspect of his lecture that surprised me was his focus on life management. He said something that I do not think I will ever forget, “Some people say that you shouldn’t worry about things that are beyond your control...I would like to challenge that. What can you do to help control things?” He then followed up with an example of a situation in which he took preemptive action in his life to manage unknown circumstances. This subject greatly encouraged me. Often I become disheartened because of unknown future outcomes or situations in my life, and I try and tell myself, “Don’t worry about it.” But Cal Ripken Jr. provided me with an alternative - to rather ask myself, “What positive actions can you take instead of worrying?” Immediately after the lecture I began thinking about graduate school preparations and I remembered this advice; already I feel as if I have benefited from Ripken’s motivational speech.
Despite my lack of knowledge about baseball, consecutive games, or the Iron Man, I thoroughly enjoyed Cal Ripken Jr.’s presentation. It seems that sport provide an excellent metaphor for the struggles and victories of life.
Christianity vs. The Religion of Nature
To me, nature has always represented a place where I could experience God’s presence in its pure form. A deep, still, midnight blue lake, a crimson sunrise, and the morning hush of a winter’s snow are all aspects of nature that have motivated me to pray and thank God for the beauty of his creation. According to Donald Worster, however, the extension of this reverence for God through an appreciation of his creation is what he refers to as “The religion of nature,” which was famously practiced by John Muir in the 19th century. As far as I can tell, the essential difference between my beliefs concerning nature and John Muir’s, is Muir’s belief that nature is, in fact, God. This led contemporaries of Muir’s time and Worster to invoke the word pantheism when speaking of his religious beliefs.
However, I am not entirely convinced that John Muir’s beliefs were as far from mainstream Christianity as we are inclined to think. In C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory and The Last Battle, the exploration of heavenly nature is tightly bound to a discovery of God. One passage from The Weight of Glory, Christ is depicted as a waterfall, “The waterfall itself was speaking: and I saw now...that it was also a bright angel who stood, like one crucified, against the rocks and poured himself perpetually down towards the forest with loud joy” (49). Perhaps the key to understanding this tight link between the God of the Bible and nature is found in a concept cited by Worster that God and beauty are synonymous concepts. This thought is not as controversial as some may think it; Plato strongly perpetuated this belief that the highest beauty and good that we observe glimpses of in this world are a reflection of the ultimate reality of beauty and good. Christian thinkers such as Boethius call these highest realities of beauty and good - God.
Worster’s lecture at the January Series, although insightful about issues of the environment, spoke more about issues of philosophy and religion. Whether one rejects Muir’s beliefs or not, it is apparent that careful discernment is required before we attempt to label God according to our own traditional categories.
However, I am not entirely convinced that John Muir’s beliefs were as far from mainstream Christianity as we are inclined to think. In C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory and The Last Battle, the exploration of heavenly nature is tightly bound to a discovery of God. One passage from The Weight of Glory, Christ is depicted as a waterfall, “The waterfall itself was speaking: and I saw now...that it was also a bright angel who stood, like one crucified, against the rocks and poured himself perpetually down towards the forest with loud joy” (49). Perhaps the key to understanding this tight link between the God of the Bible and nature is found in a concept cited by Worster that God and beauty are synonymous concepts. This thought is not as controversial as some may think it; Plato strongly perpetuated this belief that the highest beauty and good that we observe glimpses of in this world are a reflection of the ultimate reality of beauty and good. Christian thinkers such as Boethius call these highest realities of beauty and good - God.
Worster’s lecture at the January Series, although insightful about issues of the environment, spoke more about issues of philosophy and religion. Whether one rejects Muir’s beliefs or not, it is apparent that careful discernment is required before we attempt to label God according to our own traditional categories.
For the Price of a Latte...
Twesigye Jackson Kaguri’s incredible story of triumph over his childhood poverty to achieve a degree in Human Rights from Columbia University, only to return to the village in which he was born and raised in order to build a school for orphans affected by HIV/AIDS greatly inspired me. So much so, that after only briefly reading some news articles that detailed his story, my immediate response was, “How can I give?”
Kaguri shared some facts that both shocked and encouraged me. For 2 cents American, a child in Uganda can receive a pencil, a requirement for school attendance. For $3, one can supply a child with books for an entire year. These facts greatly moved me; how often do I spend 1, 2, or 3 dollars on items such as a latte, or a snack, without even thinking? What I consider “loose change” or “coffee money” could mean the entire future of a Ugandan child. This information immediately motivated me to take action. I have for a while now felt spiritually convicted about financial stewardship, and I have realized that the better I can manage my finances, the more money that will be available to use for the kingdom of God. I personally struggle with the desire for instant gratification, and I often justify frivolous purchases with the rationale,”I deserve this.” This faulty reasoning suggests that I somehow deserve more and better things than people who live in poverty. It also places my frivolities on the same plane as the basic needs of people such as the Ugandan orphans that Kaguri supports. Too long have I waded in the stagnant waters of apathy, standing by while my brothers and sisters in Christ are swept away by the tides of poverty. Now is the time for me to take action, and I have Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and the Holy Spirit to thank for this realization.
I would highly encourage everyone to join me in rethinking our attitudes towards finances, and to support the ministry of Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and his schools.
Kaguri shared some facts that both shocked and encouraged me. For 2 cents American, a child in Uganda can receive a pencil, a requirement for school attendance. For $3, one can supply a child with books for an entire year. These facts greatly moved me; how often do I spend 1, 2, or 3 dollars on items such as a latte, or a snack, without even thinking? What I consider “loose change” or “coffee money” could mean the entire future of a Ugandan child. This information immediately motivated me to take action. I have for a while now felt spiritually convicted about financial stewardship, and I have realized that the better I can manage my finances, the more money that will be available to use for the kingdom of God. I personally struggle with the desire for instant gratification, and I often justify frivolous purchases with the rationale,”I deserve this.” This faulty reasoning suggests that I somehow deserve more and better things than people who live in poverty. It also places my frivolities on the same plane as the basic needs of people such as the Ugandan orphans that Kaguri supports. Too long have I waded in the stagnant waters of apathy, standing by while my brothers and sisters in Christ are swept away by the tides of poverty. Now is the time for me to take action, and I have Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and the Holy Spirit to thank for this realization.
I would highly encourage everyone to join me in rethinking our attitudes towards finances, and to support the ministry of Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and his schools.
Kinship: The Answer to Racism?
Father Greg Boyle, in his presentation at Calvin College last Wednesday, he emphasized the word kinship as the key to addressing societal issues and establishing true community. As Nikki Toyama-Szeto presented her timely lecture concerning racial issues in honor of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., I couldn’t help but remember Father Boyle’s word. Despite the differing vocations of Father Boyle and Mrs. Toyama-Szeto, they both stressed the need for true community, or kinship, rather than a superficial discussion of the issues that divide societies.
I didn’t think much of racial issues growing up. I didn’t realize I was Caucasian, or that some my friends were of a differing ethnicity, until I took history in middle school. This naivety was in part due to the seemingly effortless multicultural society in which I lived in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and also in part because of my parents’ efforts to expose me to different cultures than our own from a very young age. Since the time I was born, my family attended primarily African-American churches, and my best friends, unbeknownst to me, were also African-American. My elementary, middle and high schools were private Christian institutions with a high percentage of international students, expanding my friend group over time to include friends from Kuwait, India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and China. Even in high school when I learned of the past racial oppression in North America, I thought of racism as a historical evil, and in no way existent in my immediate life.
Attending college in the United States shattereds my naive reality. I can distinctly remember the first time I recognized the racial tension between Caucasians and African- Americans; I walked into the dining hall my freshman year and took a seat at a table with all African-American students. I smiled at them and began introducing myself. They stared at me as if I had lost my way, and didn’t speak to me for about five minutes. After the five minutes had passed, we chatted normally, but I had finally experienced the tension which I though only existed in my history textbook; it was apparent that I was not expected to befriend or sit with African-American students because I was white.
Nikki Toyama-Szeto remained very positive about racial issues throughout her talk, which I greatly respected. She described some events in her life in which she was discriminated, but quickly moved past these issues to address our true calling as Christians: to realize and appreciate each other’s differences in culture and race, and to realize that, “Without you, my view of God is incomplete.” My naive childhood experience in which race was absent was not a utopia as some people may have thought; I realize now that as a child I lacked an awareness of the enormous blessing I could have gained from recognizing other people of cultures and listening to their experiences.
As I move from this naivety to an adult realization of the complex histories and issues that currently surround race in North America, I will attempt to seek after relationships that enlarge my view of God and pursue, as Father Boyle puts it, kinship.
I didn’t think much of racial issues growing up. I didn’t realize I was Caucasian, or that some my friends were of a differing ethnicity, until I took history in middle school. This naivety was in part due to the seemingly effortless multicultural society in which I lived in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and also in part because of my parents’ efforts to expose me to different cultures than our own from a very young age. Since the time I was born, my family attended primarily African-American churches, and my best friends, unbeknownst to me, were also African-American. My elementary, middle and high schools were private Christian institutions with a high percentage of international students, expanding my friend group over time to include friends from Kuwait, India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and China. Even in high school when I learned of the past racial oppression in North America, I thought of racism as a historical evil, and in no way existent in my immediate life.
Attending college in the United States shattereds my naive reality. I can distinctly remember the first time I recognized the racial tension between Caucasians and African- Americans; I walked into the dining hall my freshman year and took a seat at a table with all African-American students. I smiled at them and began introducing myself. They stared at me as if I had lost my way, and didn’t speak to me for about five minutes. After the five minutes had passed, we chatted normally, but I had finally experienced the tension which I though only existed in my history textbook; it was apparent that I was not expected to befriend or sit with African-American students because I was white.
Nikki Toyama-Szeto remained very positive about racial issues throughout her talk, which I greatly respected. She described some events in her life in which she was discriminated, but quickly moved past these issues to address our true calling as Christians: to realize and appreciate each other’s differences in culture and race, and to realize that, “Without you, my view of God is incomplete.” My naive childhood experience in which race was absent was not a utopia as some people may have thought; I realize now that as a child I lacked an awareness of the enormous blessing I could have gained from recognizing other people of cultures and listening to their experiences.
As I move from this naivety to an adult realization of the complex histories and issues that currently surround race in North America, I will attempt to seek after relationships that enlarge my view of God and pursue, as Father Boyle puts it, kinship.
An International Appreciation of Music
Being Canadian, it is not often that patriotic American emblems, music, or literature move me at an intense emotional level. Therefore, the Ensemble Galilei, along with Neil Conan and Lily Knight, greatly succeeded in arousing my emotions this past Friday in their presentation of “First Person: Seeing America.”
The presentation was a mixture of musical performance, theatrics, reading, and historical photographs. My two favorite parts of the Ensemble’s performance were the excellent music, especially the fantastic fiddling of Hanneke Cassell, and the superb acting talent of Lily Knight. Their resumes, as detailed in the programs for the afternoon, were quite formidable and made it quite an honor to hear them play at our very own Calvin College. However, even if their resumes were a bit less impressive, their performance would have no doubt spoken for itself.
I am not particularly skilled in any one instrument, but I do very much appreciate the beauty of a well-played fiddle. I can distinctly remember one of my very first encounters with a piece of fiddling music, which was, ironically, when I watched the movie Fiddler on the Roof and fell in love with the memorable fiddle melody of that musical. Thus, listening to Hanneke Cassell during the Ensemble’s performance was not only a beautiful experience because of the music itself, but also because of the tender memories awakened by the melodies she played.
It seems that patriotism has little to do with the appreciation of exceptional talent. Despite my initial doubts concerning the uniquely American nature of their performance, the skill and evident passion of the Ensemble Galilei, Neal Conan and Lily Knight sincerely moved me.
The presentation was a mixture of musical performance, theatrics, reading, and historical photographs. My two favorite parts of the Ensemble’s performance were the excellent music, especially the fantastic fiddling of Hanneke Cassell, and the superb acting talent of Lily Knight. Their resumes, as detailed in the programs for the afternoon, were quite formidable and made it quite an honor to hear them play at our very own Calvin College. However, even if their resumes were a bit less impressive, their performance would have no doubt spoken for itself.
I am not particularly skilled in any one instrument, but I do very much appreciate the beauty of a well-played fiddle. I can distinctly remember one of my very first encounters with a piece of fiddling music, which was, ironically, when I watched the movie Fiddler on the Roof and fell in love with the memorable fiddle melody of that musical. Thus, listening to Hanneke Cassell during the Ensemble’s performance was not only a beautiful experience because of the music itself, but also because of the tender memories awakened by the melodies she played.
It seems that patriotism has little to do with the appreciation of exceptional talent. Despite my initial doubts concerning the uniquely American nature of their performance, the skill and evident passion of the Ensemble Galilei, Neal Conan and Lily Knight sincerely moved me.
Dr. Energy
If the Energizer Bunny had a role model, it would be Dr. Glenn Geelhoed. Boasting a plethora of degrees, having run more than 100 marathons, and having visited every continent, Dr. Geelhoed certainly seems to have gotten the most out of his years on earth, and does not yet show any signs of slowing. But, his passion for medical missions and the people he serves is his primary focus, as his Christian faith motivates him to give out of the many gifts and opportunities he possesses.
I greatly admire Dr. Geelhoed’s zeal for his work, but in all honesty, found him to be my least favorite speaker in the January Series heretofore. I believe this opinion was mostly influenced by the scattered, hyperactive nature of Dr. Geelhoed’s speaking. Often he would say inspirational quotes at random, without any indication of the context in which these bits of wisdom apply. One such quote that he used multiple times in both the classroom session and during the lecture was, “Do not identify the patient with the disease; do not identify the person with the poverty.” My interpretation of this statement is that Dr. Geelhoed is urging us to primarily see the humanity of the people we serve, but I wish that he had expounded on this thought a little more coherently.
Glenn Geelhoed’s energy and passion for life is to be admired, without a doubt. I realized during his presentation, however, that I could not serve God through a similar lifestyle. My desire to serve, I believe, is just as strong as Dr. Geelhoed’s, but I could not live at such a fast pace without suffering ultimate physical, mental, and emotional consequences. As I continue to seek the areas in which God has placed me to serve vocationally, I am reassured that the body of Christ is comprised of a multitude of members, all with talents and callings different than my own.
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