He Touched Me! He Really Touched Me!

How long has it been now? 1 month, 2 months, I've lost count. Each day seems like an eternity to me, no one walks near me, no one speaks to me and I haven't had a decent meal in months. I've been sleeping on the street and begging for food and money. All because of THIS...

I look at my hands, my arms, my body, my legs... there is something wrong with my skin but I don't know what. The priests say that I am "Unclean". I don't even know what that means. All I know is that it's something that people are afraid of and something that forces me to live this way. Even my so-called "friends" and family have ignored me. They won't even talk to me. Why does this have to happen to me? What have I done to deserve this?!

I've sat at this corner for such a long time. I stare into the street hoping people will even recognize me. However, I have yet to see a single person acknowledge my existence. Occasionally someone will walk by and drop some money for me, even then though, it is difficult for me to even get by. Every 7 days for as long as I could remember, I have made trips to the priest to see if they can deem me "Clean" again as they explained it. However, no such thing. This problem with my skin is still here and it won't go away. It's even getting to the point where the priest will not see me anymore. How will I ever be accepted again when the only one that can restore me has given up on me...

As the days go by, I have seen many Rabbi's pass through. I think maybe, just maybe, they can be the ones who can make me clean. Whenever I see one, I run up and I go on my knees and beg, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." The response that I get though are not the best. Everyone backs off and the Rabbi looks at me with disgust and doesn't say a word. He runs away from me or in some cases, ignore me. Not even these holy men will accept me.

Today was like any other day. The sun was out with a light enough breeze so that it's not too hot. I sit at my corner and stare off into the street asking if people can give me money. The usually response, well... there is no response. They all ignore me. I then look over to the left of me and see this man. He was walking casually with a few people following behind him. I believe this man must be a Rabbi, but where are all his followers? He's only got a few. Never-the-less though, I look at him and there is something different about him. I think, maybe this man can make me clean. As I continue to look at him, and as he gets closer, I can feel my heart beating faster and faster and the excitement well up inside of me, I can't help but feel that this could be my only chance. Before I know it, I'm on my feet running towards this Rabbi. I run as fast as I can and collapse before his feet being careful not to touch him. This man stops, along with everyone else. It's all quiet with all eyes looking at this Rabbi. I look at him and he looks back at me... With tears in my eyes, I beg him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." The man looks back at me and stares straight in my eyes. Are those tears in his eyes?

With everything quiet, he then lifts his hand. It was as if time itself slowed down. He starts extending his hand towards me. I start to think, what is he doing? Is he really going to touch me? As his hand moves closer and closer I feel as if my heart is beating out of my chest. For what seemed like an eternity, his hand finally comes close to my shoulder, he pauses, then kneels down and places his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't believe what was happening. This man actually touched me! Wouldn't that make him unclean too? With his eyes glued to mine, he began to speak with his hand still placed on my shoulder, "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

As soon as he said those words, I felt something over-take my body. It was as if a great power has passed through it. What in the world is happening to me? The feelings of fear and excitement are overtaking me as I look around wondering what is happening. I look at my arms and hands, no marks... I start feeling the rest of my body for any sores... nothing... I place my hands on my face... smooth, no marks. This skin disease is gone!!

I look at this man in amazement. This man has just healed me!! I then hear some of his followers talking amongst themselves and I was able to catch his name, "Jesus." So that's his name. Jesus then then says to me, "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." I hear this was wondering what in the world was he talking about? But I just nodded.

I got up and ran as fast as I could, crying out, "Jesus has healed me!! LOOK! I am clean now!!" Telling everyone that I saw. People recognized me and asked me how this happened and I told them everything about this man Jesus who healed me. People are talking to me and accepting me again.

I was so excited that I completely forgot what Jesus told me to do. What was it that he told me to do again?

The Christian Radar

Inspiration: Matthew 5:14-16

Recently, I have come to realize that everyone has some sort of built-in radar. Have you ever had a situation where your in a crowd of people and you happen to just start talking to someone and find out that the both of you grew up in the same town or city? Have you just stood there with hundreds of people talking and when someone says something that completely catches your attention and everything else becomes silent and you immediately find that person?

I'm going to use my "radar" as an example. It has been about a year since I last blogged but as some of you may know, I have been constantly moving for the last 6 years. I am now living in Burnaby, BC working at SFU with IVCF. I have just come to the realization of my Saskatchewan Radar. Actually, those in Saskatchewan, they can probably say that we all have that Radar. We always seem to find each other in the most unlikely places. Two people that I do Kung Fu with are from Saskatchewan and these were some of the first people I talked to during Kung Fu. It wasn't until almost a month into Kung Fu where I found out that these 2 people were from Regina! There is something about people from Saskatchewan (most likely the green) and we just naturally go to each other. Also, for those who aren't from Saskatchewan, you can almost tell if a person is from Saskatchewan. In a way, you have picked us up on your own radar. It's probably because we're CRAZY!!! =D

Keeping this in mind, I sometimes wonder about the Christian Radar. Are Christians able to pick each other up on their radar? Are Christians showing up in other people's radars? Myself being a Christian all my life, am I shining a light that would draw people like I do with my fellow Saskatchewanians?

If you think stealth wise, you want to "fly under the radar" so that you won't be detected. That way you can accomplish your mission without any conflict. However, if you ask Jesus, He says the complete opposite. He's saying that we all have a light and that we need to let it shine. We NEED to be detected. If you ask me, on average, we are doing an amazing job "flying under the radar." The Christian light we project is pretty small. In some cases, it's so small that not even the Christian radar can pick it up! Now, I'm not saying all Christians are like this. There are LOTS of examples of Christians being a light and sending such a large signal that any radar can pick it up. I have just found in general that most of us Christians aren't shining the light that God gives us so freely. We hide it under the lamp and hide it from any other radar out of fear that we may be labeled as a "Christian."

Now even as I write this, I realize that Christians are being picked up on the other radars. However, usually we only hear about the bad things that happen. Peoples radars are so in tuned to the negative things that Christians do and that's what they always pick up on, even other Christians. So I guess the question now is, "How do we as Christians shine the light of God that is SO GOOD that other peoples radars can pick it up?"

Well, I don't think there is a single solution that will solve this problem. Probably more guidelines and it's guidelines that we've all probably heard before too.

1. Know what Good actually is - We need to be immersed in the Word of God to actually know what this good light actually is.

2. Prayer - No matter how hard we try, we can't display this light without the Holy Spirit. Our lives to be lead by Jesus through scripture and prayer.

3. Community - Yes it can only take one person to make a difference, but being together as a community what Jesus wants us to be in. Jesus always traveled with a community and that community shone an amazing light. Jesus sent his disciples out 2 by 2 and that was shining a light everywhere.

4. Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ - This seems like a Sunday School answer but how many of us actually know what this means? If we truly experienced the GOODNESS of God's light, will we REALLY keep it to ourselves? This is the light that brings physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. This is the light that penetrates even the darkest of nights and depths of our hearts. This is the light that restores our souls and gives us peace.

5. Not just staying within our own Christian Bubble - We as Christians NEED to get out of our safe Christian bubbles and start being involved with other bubbles. The lighted places don't need more light, it is the dark places that need the light. This being said, the Christian community is a place that we as Christians go to get fed ourselves. So don't forget the community.

These are all things that have been challenging me and I just wanted to share it with you. If you have any thoughts or comments on this, I would love to hear them =).

God Bless!