Landed in Atlanta today just as someone was throwing a rock through my kitchen window.
It's odd to be back at a computer. Typing is weird. Instant and easy access is weird.
I'm missing the constant interaction, though I was weary of it, but I'm looking forward to the luxury of my own bed, a quiet house, and coffee when I want it.
I'm also pondering the phrase 'nourish the strong, shoot the weak.' Tomorrow's class is about poverty, and I'm not ready for it, even though I should have hugely insightful things to say due to this recent interaction with the homeless community of NY. I don't. I think I'm going to just go to class and offer some simple thoughts and my exhaustion.
How many of our institutions are built, either intentionally or unintentionally, on nourishing, feeding, extolling, caring for, building up the strong people of this world? And how often do I shoot the weak?
What happens when a church or the church nourishes the strong and shoots the weak?
Posted by mike at October 20, 2004 10:45 PMCarry the wounded. Shoot the stragglers.
Posted by: ryan at October 20, 2004 11:15 PMWhen we uphold the strong and shoot the weak, we end up with a world that looks like the messed up, unjust one we're living in, as opposed to one that reflects the Kingdom of God.
Posted by: Rebekah at October 21, 2004 11:15 AMWhat?? I'm slightly disturbed by the idea that we should shoot the weak...deeply disturbed, actually, and here's why. God's policy (check the Old Testament) is for his people to look out for those who are less fortunate than we are. EVERYONE should feel like an insider, like they belong, and being weak or small or stupid is no reason to write someone off.
Carry the wounded, shoot the stragglers? Ok, Ryan, there's no tone of voice in blogs so I'm going to assume you're being serious not sarcastic. God forbid you ever become a straggler. Dang, boy, you may have to have some lessons and humility in your life...become a straggler...and then we'll see what you have to say about shooting the stragglers. Instead of shooting the stragglers, let's go get them and round them up and help them keep up with the rest of us.
Yipes. Ryan, there but for the grace of God go I.
Posted by: Krista at October 21, 2004 03:59 PMoh yeah! Krista has internet access again...all hail the grammar queen
Posted by: jeep at October 21, 2004 06:33 PMHey, I'm the Grammar Queen but not the head sovereign of the kingdom. I actually know someone who can give me a run for my money and challenge my grammar sense. It's the bf. :) The Grammar King. haha.
Posted by: Krista at October 22, 2004 06:34 PMRight, Lord, but WHEN did we see you naked, hungry, and thirsty? Like, I can't ever remember seeing you at all.
WELL, BOB, REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE SHOOTING ALL THOSE WEAK PEOPLE? WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED WAS YOUR COAT, SOME OF YOUR LUNCH, AND A CUP OF COLD WATER IN JESUS' NAME.
What does that have to do with anything, Lord? Besides, they (retarded folks, ugly folks, handicapped folks, the aliens, the orphans, the poor, the widows) were slowing the rest of us down. I was doing your people a favor.
WHATEVER YOU DID TO THE LEAST OF THESE, BOB, YOU DID TO ME. AND ALL THAT STUFF YOU COULD HAVE DONE FOR THEM BUT DIDN'T? YOU DENIED ME OF THOSE THINGS. GUESS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ME ALL THAT WELL, AFTER ALL. SEE YOU.
What?! Aw, nuts.
Posted by: bob at October 25, 2004 12:39 AM