The Courage to Be

Before I had children I often thought how selfish it would be to bring children up in this world. This world is a horrible place full of hate and disillusionment. And, had I been privy to the knowledge about the world I have now, my feelings about this world would be multiplied negatively.

But, many of us want children because we desire this sense that we will carry on through a legacy established by their existence. It wasn’t until after the birth of my third child that I had a dream about this. There was an apocalyptic scene in the dream where there existed nothing but desolation. Smoke rising from the ashes of recently fallen buildings and people. No matter where you looked there was destruction. However, there was one exception. Right in front of me were three flowers all different in color and size. The three flowers represented my children existing amid the desolation. They were so beautiful and bright set upon the dark contrasting background. Then I heard my inner voice say to me that those flowers are here to spread their seed and make the world beautiful again. It is my job to nurture and care for those flowers so that they can accomplish this.

I don’t think my children are any different than any other child. But I do think as parents we have a great responsibility in teaching ourselves and our children how to be light in this world. I believe much of the darkness we see is a result of people not taking their role as human beings seriously enough. We have to set an example for our children by existing properly in the world ourselves.

Being in the world

It takes courage to exist in this world. It takes courage because the world is a hard place, full of difficult circumstances and people. It takes courage because others are watching. To be in this world doesn’t just mean to exist. A lot of people just exist in this world, but few of them actually take their being in the world seriously. What I mean by this is that few people understand that they have something to contribute to this world – that they have value no matter how nominal they may think their contribution is.

Too many people shrink with their heads down taking up as little space in this world as possible. They do this because they don’t want to be noticed. Taking one’s being serious means that you stand tall to take up as much space as possible so that people are aware of your presence.

Properly existing in the world means your willing to take risks so that your life can benefit from the outcome. That you are willing to make your voice be heard because your opinion reflects who you are. That you are willing to stand up means that you are not a part of the herd.

Many people in this world are willing to settle for contentment as their end goal. A person who decides to exist properly in the world will not settle for contentment but always has the desire to move forward. Being content is safe. There is no risk involved. Taking risks is always uncomfortable because the result can make you regress.

Ultimately, existing properly in this world means that you are always present to yourself and your context. That you are in a perpetual state of awareness both for the self and the other.

Being makes meaning possible. It’s only when you stand that you communicate in some form that you have something meaningful to offer. If all we did was exist, then we would live in a world that lacks meaning. However, despite the darkness of our world, there is meaning. And, for the Christian, there is hope.

Jesus and Being

This has a lot of significance in religious life. Many are under the assumption that being a Christian means that you are an individual that has certain beliefs and convictions. And although being a Christian indeed means having certain beliefs, it is not what defines the fact that you are a Christian. When we “share” Jesus with others we oftentimes take the idea of beliefs and convictions and transfer it to the other (whether they want it or not.) But when we do this we ignore the larger calling of being. I’m not a Christian because I have prayed a prayer of forgiveness or traveled down the Romans’ Road. I am a Christian because I have committed to existing a certain way in the world. I am committing to exist as Jesus did.

Jesus took the idea of being very seriously as demonstrated through His many conversations with the religious leaders of His day. When the religious leaders would argue with Jesus it was always about beliefs. They would say things like, “Jesus what do you believe about this?” Or, “should we do this or that?” Jesus always switched the conversation from beliefs to being. The religious leaders lived by the letter of the law (much like modern Evangelicals and other conservative groups claim to), and, in so doing, their judgment of behavior was about how much those laws were upheld. When Jesus came into the picture He showed us that it is more important to heal on the Sabbath than it is to maintain our ceremonial duties because healing involves being and therefore, contributes meaning.

If you were to focus on this idea of being throughout the Gospel story you would see that Jesus was not crucified for what He believed – that was just the legal excuse given. Instead, Jesus was crucified for what He represented in the world.

Jesus never implored us to believe a certain way. He always directed us to be a certain way. He never said following a list of rules is what makes you a follower of His. Instead, He said, love your neighbor. Do things for them. Worship God and share the hope that I give the world. He said, be like me.

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