“Our greatest fulfillment,” writes Christian Philosopher Henri Nouwen, “lies in giving ourselves to others. Although it often seems that people give only to receive, I believe that, beyond all our desires to be appreciated, rewarded, and acknowledged, there lies a simple and pure desire to give.”
Sometimes, I think the world is divided into two kinds of people: Those who believe what Nouwen said, and those who don’t. Everybody has to make their own choice.
No less a Christian authority than Jesus Christ called upon his followers to care for the needy and the poor, and give them comfort. That, he said over and over again, was what it was all about.
What does being a Christian mean?: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can,” wrote John Wesley.
It is not easy to be a Christian, wrote David Platt, a Christian scholar. “Radical obedience to Christ is not easy..It’s not comfort, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things.”
When I was young, I often thought that what I wanted was to be a good Christian. Where I grew up Christians not only worried about the poor and the vulnerable, they helped them, fed them, housed them, comforted them. They especially reached out to refugees and immigrants, and gave them shelter and hope.
I left Judaism behind and converted to Quakerism, but I always admired what I believed to be the spirit of Christianity. At the moment, I don’t really want to be a good Christian anymore. They seem to have gone underground.
I’m sure the idea of the Good Christian still exists, and I’m certain these noble ideas are still widely in practice. Yet the Christians I admired are strangely quiet. I don’t ever seem to find them on the news, or marching in front of the White House.
I rarely see them in public life or taking part in the raging values discussions Americans are having. Or passing laws for the good. I miss the Christians. They don’t seem to me to be fighting for the poor any longer, they seem to be fighting a lot for the comforted, not the needy.
I miss them. I think we all need them. It is quite fashionable to evoke Jesus, but not so easy to follow him. In truth, wrote Friedrich Nietzsche,”there was only one Christian and he died on the cross.”
Pope Francis seems very much a Christian to me, for all the troubles of the church: “How can it be,” he asks, “that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”
I stand with Henri Nouwen. Our greatest fulfillment lies in giving ourselves to others. I have found that to be the truth these past few years.
The Christian ethos was the most radical idea the world had ever heard or know, and I guess in many ways, it still is. Any day, the great cathedral gates will open and the Christians will return, singing the call to give to others.
Nouwen writes that our humanity comes to its fullest bloom in giving.
This has been true for me.
We become beautiful people when we commit small acts of great kindness, whether we give a smile, a pat on the back, a word of love, some underpants, a bra, a gift.
I think of this idea as a Christian idea, even though it is invoked in every major faith in the world. I see now that I was right, sitting at night in my room, reading St. Augustine when I was young. We need the Christian idea of fulfillment, more than I ever knew.
I hope the Christians have not grown tired of their radical messages. I hope they are just wandering in the desert, trodding patiently on their way home. I want to tie a note to a white dove and send him up to the skies to find the Christians if they are hiding up in the sky: “Come home. We need you.”
Beautiful thoughts. Thank you. We need the Christians!
Jon, I think the Christians might be overwhelmed by the radical hatred going on today, I know I can be. Working in silently in the background is what they do, never seeking notoriety nor applause. My Salvation Army Grandma used to tell us, you would know a Christian by their actions, that they didn’t need to run around telling anyone they were Christians. She was a Christian. Her daily actions – her long and quiet life, trudging forward, helping anyone, giving away any money that she might receive, having the needs of others always on her mind, those were actions of a Christian. She worked tirelessly for others and without complaint. As the Pope said, it’s sad that material news gets more press than spiritual. I think your exercises for deeper discernment can help us all become better people, even if we don’t espouse Christianity. It’s a start, anyway.
Nice message, Karla thanks..
This may be what the Christians are doing.
English Standard Version
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1
Your evocation of color is absolutely stunning. No one just looking at this scene would see this. but you and your camera magic have pulled it to the fore and made this wounderful presenation. Bravo bravo, bravo, photographic artist Jon Katz.
I like your remembrance of the way to really seeknow a Christian is by their acts and lives.
My imaginary wall of Jon Katz photos would be the golden morning shot of the path, the ephemeral donkeys, gus and bud on their donkey mounts, and many of Red in his herding stance early on, ( can never see too many of Red.) One of Maria in the hat which you had on displayed at the Round Cafe . ttjere was a totslly captivating picture of the man and his son (legally attacted for his care of his horses.) The son is draped on the shoulder of his father–totally beguiling photo. Other photos that I remember with much fondness are the ones Maria has taken with you and your dogs. And one of Robin, taken by her mother: Robin and Sancy on the sofa, looking sideways with much attitude.. will be long remembered even though it is not one that you took. I do love and appreciate the truth-beyond-truth that you do so well with your photographic presentations. As you can see, I’m a fan.
Where are the Christians? They are serving people in the community thru the church food & clothing banks; collected & sent winter coats to the Pine Ridge Reservation; regularly visit people in assisted & skilled care facilities; devote time to provide beautiful music during contemporary or traditional worship; preach an inspiring sermon that has taken much work, thought, & prayer to put together, & teach in-depth bible study; outreach to address crises such as human trafficking & drug overdoses; going on mission trips both domestically & internationally; volunteering for ‘early responder’ groups to help clean up after disasters; facilitate spiritual formation groups for deepening of personality spirituality. That’s where some of the Christian’s are.
Good to hear..we need to see more of them…
I believe Jesus would have marched on the Capitol by now and done to it what he die to the priests in the Temple. I don’t believe he would be happy to be so quiet.
I’d like to see him in the Senate overturning some tables!
By the way, I am United Methodist. Thanks for quoting John Wesley.
Also, Christians are deeply & actively involved in Creation Care ministries to care for & help save our planet.