Just Jesus

I had a few moments to myself today at a cafe. bliss. I picked up a Marie Claire magazine and came across a "grrrrrrrr" (said with a growl and a scowl) article about a grandmother in Iraq who befriended prostitutes and rape victims, only to indoctrinate them with violence. One by one, she would convince them that the only way to escape their sexual shame was to become a martyr by suicide bombing. Nothing like a little light reading with a coffee to brighten my day! (sarcasm) Is it not enough that these women are suffering under abuse and the loss of every sort of freedom? Now they are being used as pawns in a terror game. Gross.

I have been asking myself the question lately, "How was Jesus just?". I know that He was because God is and Jesus says "if you've seen me, you've seen the Father." But I want to know how Jesus specifically outworked justice in His life. I have next to no time to do any major Bible study, so I'm relying on what I can remember reading in the gospels pre-mommyhood.

As I've been thinking about his life I've been struck by how Jesus isn't just in the way I would expect him to be. Take the case of the tax collectors. Those guys were little creeps, siding with the oppressors and taking money from their own. You would think that Jesus would have a nice little sermon prepared for these guys... with a 5 points on why tax collecting was bad. Instead he makes a lunch date with them. But even though he didn't preach at them (at least nothing that is recorded) you get the idea that they knew where he stood on the issue. I've never been under the impression that Jesus approved of what they were doing and yet I can't think of anything he actually directly said about the matter.

If I was Jesus (and it's a good thing I'm not) I would have started some sort of "Just Tax" campaign and got all my disciples to wear rubber wristbands.

Some other observations...

Jesus seems to have a special disdain for religious injustice... any system that keeps people from God has got to go.

Jesus is generous with his mercy and creative with justice.

Jesus identifies fully as a victim of injustice (to the point of death) and overcomes injustice not through the usual world systems, but through mercy, relationship and LIFE.

Jesus deals with oppression by living as one of the oppressed and restoring the dignity of the victim. Rod Wilson pointed out to me that Jesus made a point of specifying, "the RIGHT cheek" when He says, "if someone hits you on the RIGHT cheek, offer him the other." It would seem that the only way you could have your right cheek hit is if someone backhands you. Now, I'm no expert on these things, but being backhanded seems to be universally demeaning. If this really is the point Jesus is trying to make than he seems to be offering an empowering way of dealing with oppression. In turning your cheek you are saying "I'm not beneath you; If you want to hit me... you'll have to hit me as an equal, in a fair fight." Jesus seems more interested in empowering the oppressed and showing them their true worth than he is in creating political policies that legislate "just" behavior.

So, now I'm left with a lot more questions on how to outwork this in my own life... and what in the world does it mean for the women of Iraq? What alternative solution would Jesus offer to them?

Maybe the next issue of Marie Claire offers an answer... or not.

waiting to be wanted

Ezra told me he loved me for the first time the other day. I've heard him tell his moose puppet and a toy train that he loved them... and i've just waited patiently for my turn. So much about being a mom makes me think about my relationship with God. Who was it that first said "God waits to be wanted" ? I'm understanding that in a whole new light these days. Ezra is teaching me a lot. There are so many times in the day where something doesn't go well for Ezra. He will collapse in a frustrated heap, wailing and kicking. "can I help you ezzy?".... "NOoooooOOOOooo...", he wails.... "It looks like you need a cuddle".... "Stop it! Noooo!", as he shoves his little chubby hand up in my face. And so I wait. And endure his screaming. I make him sit on a chair in his room until he calms down. I wait and wait and wait. And then finally he'll emerge from the bedroom... puffy eyes, slumped little shoulders, dragging his feet... and he'll come, sheepishly, but he'll come. And he'll say "sorry" (only he doesn't say his "r"s right so it sounds more like "sowwy". He'll put his head on my chest and sit with me until the sadness is gone. And sometimes the whole tantrum episode has left me so frustrated... and little chubby cheeks can tell. So, he'll look up at me and ask "mommy, are you sad?". "Yes, Ezra - mommy is frustrated." Then he'll change his tactic, "Mommy, are you happy now?". And unless I'm really, really angry this usually will always melt me on the spot. "Yes, Ezra... Mommy is happy now"

a cold night

It's very cold tonight and I really should be in bed because my baby girl (Indie) will probably be awake 4 or 5 times in the night wanting a cuddle or a little nurse. She is teething so sleep has been hard for her. But instead of being tucked in my bed (warm) I am sitting up late with cold fingers writing my first entry for my blog. I'm tempted to wait until I'm more rested, or more inspired, but really this blog is about me writing in the ordinary moments of my life. The thing is I get deeper thoughts about my life all the time, but before I have a chance to develop those thoughts I'm rushing off to change a nappy or wipe up weetbix before it dries into a cereal plaster on my floor. And so all my deep thoughts about God and life and the meaning of motherhood tend to get lost it the frantic rush of baby and toddler. So maybe, just maybe this will help me stop for a moment and capture those thoughts before they are gone forever. Hmmmm... we'll see. I'm off to bed