I stand amazed

Before I could walk, before I could talk — I was in church. Year after year shifted me from Sunday school class to Sunday school class, but the message remained the same. For a week every summer, I joined my peers in drinking syrupy Kool-aid, playing games, making chintzy crafts and learning stories and verses from the Bible. As I grew older, I loaded up on mission trip after mission trip and took my turn sharing the stories so deeply ingrained into my mind.

I said all that to say this: This Christianity business is nothing new to me. I know the stories, many of them backwards and forwards. I know the characters, sure.

But I also sit here on this Sunday morning and admit that all the knowledge I have — and many of you have as well — doesn’t mean too much. It’s only one piece of the puzzle.

The past two weeks have allowed me the privilege to be a part of a study of the book of John with a friend who is learning it all for the first time. And I must say that as I sat in that circle, watching the expression on my friend’s face as they hear of Jesus’ birth and miracles and sacrifice — God has convicted my heart.

For as my friend takes it all in with wide eyes and a big smile, I have realized that my own wonder, my own awe has faded as I have grown older.

Take the Christmas story, the story of Jesus’ birth. How many of us can say we take the time to be amazed — shocked, even — by the fact Mary was a virgin?

Take the story of the woman at the well. How often do we sit and reflect upon how Jesus used a Samaritan adulteress to help spread the news of His identity to Samaria? And how did he know of those five husbands of hers anyway?

And take good ole John 3:16—

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that whosoever believed him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is memorized by church children early on — myself included — and is used as the theme of many a sermon and many a tract.

And rightly so. For its words, though few, sum up the theme of the thousands of pages that fill the Holy Bible. But how many times do I stand and mechanically recite the precious words? More than I dare say.

But on this morning, join me in reflecting, with hearts full of wonder and awe, on this mighty God we serve. One who loved us so much, even in our sins and blunders, that he offered up his one and only, pure and perfect Son for our sake. And he sent Him here knowing full well, even planning, that we would kill him — brutally and cruelly. Why? To offer you and I an opportunity to delve into the pages of His word, believe His story and live with Him forever in heaven.

The stories we teach our children and absorb ourselves are key, yes. But let us not forget to take time to sit in wonder. And let us teach our children to stand amazed.

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Psalm 139: 1-6

My humble purpose

This morning, as I sat at my desk making final changes to this week’s Chanticleer, the stresses of my work and my life seemed smaller somehow. For as my own brow furrowed with concern over whether to capitalize this or that and whether to place this comma here or there, a gentleman sat quietly in my office, while all the while he ran the largest news organization in the world.

Arthur Sulzberger Jr. is the chairman and publisher of The New York Times Company, and for one day, Mr. Sulzberger descended upon Jacksonville State University as this year’s Ayers Lecturer. But before he took to the podium, he sat in my office for a couple of hours.

So, I went on with tackling the issues of my life — such as which reporters I should send to which lecture or blood drive (riveting, I know) — while he sat reading his newspaper. His newspaper.

I felt small, yes. Insignificant, yes. But would I trade places with this man? No, never.

By no means does my life boast as large a footprint as Mr. Sulzberger or others, but at the same time, it is a life I have been given by the grace of God, and it is a life that I am determined to live with vitality.

To some, my ambitions for my future seem small. And they’re right. This small town girl has no desire to make a city like New York City, Washington, D.C., or heck, even Atlanta my home. My ambitions are less career-based — though I do love the work I am doing now and hope to continue bettering myself in my field for a long, long time. My ambition, in a nutshell, is to love and befriend people. Period.

And whether or not that ambition leads me to an impressive position with an impressive organization like The New York Times (emphasis on the not), I am satisfied — satisfied with the life God has carved out for me. I believe in my God, the God who has saved me from myself and the ways of the world, and I believe in the purpose He has set in my heart.

I hope Mr. Sulzberger can say the same.

An ambassador

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:20-21

The word ambassador inspires in me a mind full of images, but one dominates —that of a dressed-up dignitary from a foreign country, serving as a peacemaker between the nations.
An ambassador is, essentially, a representative. A go-between. Someone to be that one person, one life that will form the world’s view of whatever or whomever he or she represents. We can represent countries, clubs, businesses or families, and whether consciously or not, we do every single day.
And as a Christian, as someone who has dedicated my life to the work of Christ (though each day I slip at fall while working at this task), I am here on Earth to represent Him. And whether my decisions are positive or poor, whether my friendships are strong or struggling, whether I walk tall or fall, I do represent Him — for better or for worse.
Christ did the unthinkable for me and for you. He was innocent and pure, yet He took the weighty sins of the world upon Himself and died a death of thieves and murderers.
And it is up to me (and you, if you know Him —and I pray you do) to stand up, wherever we are and whatever we are doing to represent Christ, and represent Him as best we can.
The world is rarely going to like what we have to say, but it is these words (for they are His, not mine) that can save. It is His words that will change this world. So speak up and speak out, speaking His truth in love, and if you see me around campus, remind me to do the same. We are therefore His ambassadors, and we implore our friends, our families, those we love on His behalf.