Good

"The place where God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." -- Frederick Buechner

Today was so full of good.

I went to the General Board of Global Ministries this morning and I learned so much more about it and all the wonderful ministries the United Methodist Church has going on throughout the world. Also, I met a Bishop from the Sudan in Africa which was really awesome.

This evening I had the pleasure of being a tourist. I went with my group to central park, times square, and other little random places. While walking down 5th avenue, my heart broke. I don't want to put down Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, Gucci, etc., but when I walk down 5th Ave. and see homeless persons sleeping on the stairs of the churches beside these stores---I guess I just figure something has to be wrong.

I listed the quote by Frederick Buechner, A Presbyterian pastor, because it has helped me somewhat see what God is calling me to do.

Today has been long as well--so I'm just going to post a few pictures of things I saw today:

Gary, a random guy I had the chance to meet at Central Park.


A gentleman painting on a HUGE rock at Central Park.


Finally, my beautiful 2008 GBGM Summer Mission Interns Class:

Contently,
Meredith

Blah

If I could describe today in one word, then that word would be “blah”. It wasn’t necessarily a bad blah, but it was dreary and rainy outside and I guess just one of those days.

We read a little bit about Ananius and his call in Acts 9:10-19. I guess I can kind of relate to Ananius in that I’m being called to do something (although I don’t know what yet) and I’m just kind of doubting a little bit right now and asking God if He’s sure He knows what He’s doing—but regardless, I will definitely try my best to do what I think He wants me to do.

Steve Schnapp, Education Coordinator for United for a Fair Economy came today to speak about Economic Justice within the United States. I know John Wesley said something along the lines of “Save as much as you can, make as much as you can, and give as much as you can,” but to see the wealth and income-gaps in our nation is mind boggling.

Peggy McIntosh wrote a book called “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, and I just want to share a couple of sections from her book:

“I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was “meant” to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks.”

“For some others like me if we raise our daily consciousness on the perquisites of being [advantaged]…What will we do with such knowledge? …It is an open question whether we will choose to use unearned advantage, and whether we will use any of our arbitrarily awarded power to try to reconstruct power systems on a broader base.”

McIntosh’s words are so powerful because they speak the truth. People who have privilege are often times so used to it that they don’t even realize that it is truly a privilege. I feel like those who are privileged should use their privilege to the good of mankind and not to afflict the oppressed anymore.

Thoughtfully,

Meredith