You would think any random Thursday wouldn't be all that exciting but I'm learning that life in the city always has surprises. Last minute my roommate got me tickets to go to the show Live with Regis and Kelly. What a weird experience! Montel, Whitney Thompson (America's Next Top Model), and Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) were on there. It was neat to go. The set is much smaller than I thought. Regis and Kelly both are funny on and off camera.
I then ran a few errands and then went to work to wrap up a few things that I've needed to do all week. After work I went to the Hope for New York's benefit. It was really nice with cheese, wine, and the whole bit. They had a young boy about 16 or 17 from the Bronx share about how his mentor had influenced him in so many ways. The boy had been involved in the mentoring program since he was 9 years old. His mentors had shared Christ with him as they taught him how to do better in school and play basketball. My eyes welled with tears when he said, "While my peers were out being introduced to drugs and the gang scene, I was being introduced to Jesus." He is now a mentor in the program. Discipleship at its best!
The speaker (Scott Sauls) at the event also shared about how we naturally pursue people like ourselves. We choose comfort over challenges. The true mid-westerner Scott said that when he first moved here someone said you him, "Is that Eddie Bauer chic?" The Eddie Bauer look doesn't fly here. While visiting home someone told him that he was looking very "Banana Republic!" Scott said it made him feel good like he had arrived somehow. Being in the city does give this sense of accomplishment just simply by living here. You receive accolades regularly. It is easy to pat yourself on the back and feel great about yourself while living among incredible suffering and need.
He talked about how we can either love the city or use the city. He challenged us to divest ourselves like Christ did for the sake of this city. To go to the hard places. There are such amazing "chic" moments here but then the marginalization is very intense. He asked us to give of ourselves in time and in resources.
Scott warned us saying, "Comfort can ruin us."
Comfort can blind us to our sin, our neighbors' needs, and cause of to focus only on ourselves. It propels selfishness and gives us permission to ignore those who are hurting. I so deeply desire to connect those with the resources to those in need.
Lord, give me wisdom. Don't let me follow my natural inclinations. Don't let comfort ruin me. Show me where I am blind. Show me how to give life to the city and not just take from it. Guard my heart, Lord.
