Why are you here?

I get asked a lot of questions on a daily basis. There is no concept of 'personal information' (or space for that matter). Any question is a perfectly acceptable question to ask. Its a communal culture. Therefore, information too, is communal. People are endlessly curious about our lives here and their questions reflect it.

"Why are you here?" and to be honest, it's a question that I ask myself.

What in the world am I doing here?

On those days when my contribution feels like a grain of sand on the beach, like a drop of water upon the crackly ground of the dry, dry, desert.

What in the world am I doing here?

And, I realize that perhaps I'm asking the wrong question. My Western mindset constantly succumbing to the temptation of looking for worth and purpose in doing. Instead shall I focus on being, and now the question can become, how am I being here?

How am I being here?

I am here to live out of the fullness of who He, above it, because in all His fullness He is love. Love, is how I'm being here. And, living out of the fullness of love isn't dependent upon any location. So my 'being' here is the same calling for you 'being' there or wherever you find yourself living fully.

Thankfully, this living fully thing isn't dependent upon location or physical possessions or comforts. We're each called to this full living of being love. My sisters teach in a school in an area that is likely deemed undesirable by many. They bear some crazy stories. But they're being there, loving fully their students, not because it was easy (ha). There they 'be' fully. I think they're amazing.

I think of my friend, who lives fully 'being' love while serving her family full time. Her sacrifice inspires me. I think she is incredible. Wouldn't this world be an awful place, if each of us, in our own places didn't live love, didn't fully 'be' in their place? Think of all the places that'd be desperately void of love and 'being' if we all did and lived in the exact same place?

Trust me, it's not pretty, or lovely, and at times, its heartbreaking.

Loving flows from being, and being flows from whatever we worship. Worship flows out of our lives, and bears a message more weighty than the mightiest of doings; a silent sermon.

I think of a woman, who lives down the street from me. Every time she sees me is an opportunity for her criticize and shame. It overflows from her heart. I can see how she 'be's. I mourn for her heart. She's seen no other way to be, other than to live wounded and bitter.

There's people all around us, who need to see that there's another way to 'be'. Would you join me today, in fully 'being' right where you are, letting love flow out of your heart, your heart 'be'ing rooted in things more sure than this shakey, dry crackly earth?

Love is a firm ground on which to stand, to be.   

Let's do it