There are a lot of people focusing on care for AIDS orphans in Africa these days. We hear it often on the lips of Bono, Oprah, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Madonna. But is this just a trend? Will this pass?
There are a couple things to watch for and a couple of things to celebrate!
Yes, we all must be growing toward that deep, gut-level compassion that led the father of the wayward son to take off in a full sprint toward the speck on the horizon. We can aspire to the kind of compassion that draws emotion from Jesus even in the middle of a loud crowd. But we have to start somewhere. 'Short term mission trips' are often criticized because they are just that - short term. Instead, compassion must be a life-style, not a cross-cultural experience or a rough and rugged vacation. But short visits can become a part of a long term and holistic mission - sharing hope and help with those in need. This is the goal. As we grow in compassion we must move toward long term and holistic models of care.
Graham Tomlin says in his books, 'The Provocative Church' and 'Spiritual Fitness,' that what we are after in many consumer products isn't the product itself but rather meaning and experience. If this is what our mission remains, then we are in trouble of just riding the trend like a wave and when the next rock star or talk show host finds the next social justice issue, we will abandon this ship and join the newest thing.
But this isn't my view of compassion. I believe in the Church. I believe the Church can be the hands and feet of Jesus in a long term and holistic (there are those words again) way when we walk through the door of compassion into a way of life that enters the needs of the world and brings God's hope and practical help there.
Are you on a journey of compassion? Let's journey together.
Sounds good to me.
When do we start?
Posted by: Mike O'Donnell | December 12, 2007 at 05:06 PM