My co-worker and friend, Suz, passed around some U2-inspired thoughts today at work since she is gearing up to see them in concert this week. I was so grateful that she pointed out some the lyrics in the song “One” (our un-offiical theme song as ONE-fellows), where they say “we get to carry each other,” not we have to carry, or we should carry each other, but that we get to, as in it’s a privilege. Working on justice issues, building relationships, engaging in community development, trying to help those with no voice, being available when we’re called to care for others – all these responses are actions that help shape us, help define us, and give back to us even as we may battle being overworked or under other burdens. Bono, characteristically, says this about the opportunity that is ours to fight world poverty:
“The year 2005 will have its leaders and its laggards, and soon it will be clear to us who was which. But in the mean time, it’s up to us to decide how we want our generation to be remembered. For the Internet? Or the war on terror? Or for finally deciding that where a child happens to be born no longer determines whether that child gets to go on living.”
Thanks, Suz, for a great reminder on why we do this work, and another strand to pick up on how a life that responds out of joy and with gratitude is more fulfilling than out of punishment, guilt, expectations, or competition.
One of the pivotal reasons that I got hooked into doing social justice work was the sheer pleasure, fun, and joy I got from being with people different then me, from being stretched and learning new things, from having my faith and my values and my decisions rearranged, from relationships and challenges that fed me so deeply that I knew I had to spend more time in this realm somehow. I also know that we all carry each other – as friends, coworkers, family, community members, fellow students, etc. – we need each other to learn from and encourage and have fun with along the journey. We in the “professional service” world also need to take turns with being the giver and the receiver with poor and hungry people, with those that we claim to work with and for in our social justice pursuits as well, if we are to ward off easy answers, paternalism, reactionary service, and empty platitudes. We are all, in different seasons, the carrier and the carried.
We get to carry each other – what a great, profound reminder for a Monday morning.
It’s so fitting that Galatians 6:2 falls under the category, “Doing Good to All,” and reads, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gosh, that is so wonderfully simplistic, do-able, and yet, loaded. Liz, your post here reminds me of a social justice meeting I just had at Princeton where people were quibbling about methodology. In the midst of the struggles of this world, we’re to build one another up, assess that we really don’t have time to be diviscive, and fill in ‘each others’ holes.’ Liz, thank you for the way your writing encourages me, thank you for expressing your thoughts and doing so with such love and grace. I’m encouraged that to “fulfill Christ’s law,” all we really need to do is show grace to one another–more than that, I’m encouraged that there’s a promise in there that in doing so we do good to all. Reminds me that it’s a very simple prayer to ask God to allow me to show grace to those around me, and it’s a very powerful thing for God to fulfill it.
Erin – I love the connection you made to showing grace to each other, then how much we receive from that. I taught at a church this weekend who really connected to my comments about what I call reciprocal transformation – why we do compassion and justice ministry, since its both b/c we help others in need, and we in the church receive a lot in response. Thanks Erin for being you!