Bloom where you are planted - Called to a Normal Christian life - 1 (BJRE022)
Bloom where you are planted - Called to a Normal Christian life - 1
Being normal, ordinary, and simple, but with a difference
(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2019)
In the early days of the Renewal, during many of the leadership formation programs, there used to be a session called ‘the Normal Christian Life.’ I don’t know if the phrase came from the book of the same title by the famous Chinese author Watchman Nee. Another amusing thing was that in those days, many thought the Renewal experience would upset the mental balance of some people. Was the above-mentioned session an attempt to clarify that what we try to introduce in this radically new spirituality was indeed in tune with true traditional Christianity?
On another note, in many of our early Jesus Youth informal gatherings, we used to discuss the importance of an ordinary and simple Christian life. All around us, we see attempts to be extraordinary. The world, in general, and at times, even spirituality, has become so showy and impressive, but here is a path that we opt to be simple and walk the way of the ordinary, but with a smile and a little fire inside. This idea of becoming like all others, especially the ordinary ones around us, has a special place in the Jesus Youth movement.
But isn’t this the true Christianity? Jesus could boldly say, ‘Come to me . . . I am gentle and lowly in heart.’ Mary exclaimed, ‘God has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.’ St Francis positively opted to give up external magnificence of all kinds, choosing to be poor and simple. In many of our discussions of the movement's early days, this challenge of becoming normal and ordinary assumed special significance.
But what does this option to be a joyful, ordinary Christian imply? Furthermore, to help us personally and as a community to examine ourselves, what areas in which there is a special call in the movement to change our ways and adopt the true spirit of ordinariness?
Bloom where you are planted
For about five years, since 1982, the First Line group paved the way for the movement, and it used to gather together every month to share, reflect, and go out with an action plan. After a few meetings at Vidyaniketan in Ernakulam, we began meeting at Sneha Nilayam, a little outside the city. And there was always a senior guiding hand in the group in Alicekutty, who was already a College Professor. One of her oft-repeated phrases was this famous maxim, ‘Bloom where you are planted.’
This saying is famously attributed to the Bishop of Geneva Francis de Sales (1567-1622), who said the best way of doing good is to shine brightly in the ordinary contexts in which we find ourselves. Of course, we are also reminded of the saying of the Apostle Paul, “In whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God” (1 Cor. 7:24). Our discovery of a new meaning and a special call in our lives comes in a context. We are in a family, having a certain way of life and, maybe, in some profession. All these indicate something about the full living of our call given to us by the Lord.
For most of us, our lives are a rat race led by the ‘carrot and stick’ principle. We may have seen this picture of someone sitting on a donkey with a carrot in front of the animal and beating it with a stick at its back. Thus, most people are driven forward by the unpleasant pain of here and now towards the tempting future ahead of us. People generally want to somehow ‘avoid’ the present problems and ‘escape’ to some enjoyable promises. In a worldly way, a mad race towards success at any cost or falling into addictions of different kinds are often driven by the same avoidance principle. Even our spirituality and a life of Christian mission can sometimes be a personal ‘push’ to escape from the here and now.
At the heart of ‘blooming where you are’ are reflection steps, an understanding in the light of faith, and a gradual acceptance of myself, my context, and those around me. This differs from seeing only problems in and around me and wanting to run away from all those to a new ‘promised land’. Instead, this is ‘giving thanks in all circumstances, because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1Thes 5:18). This acceptance, leading to appreciation, becomes a beautiful mission when anointed with a spirit of joy. So, there is a big difference between just being where I am and seeing myself as sent to where I am, which is living fully and actively here and now with a mission.
In Jesus Youth, at the heart of being a Normal Christian is this ‘blooming where you are planted.’ You are in this family or neighborhood; thank God for it. You are a man or a woman; see His beautiful design in it. I am gifted with various special qualities and limitations; see how the Lord will use them. I go to new places, meet new friends, and enter other phases of life; I will see all these as the Lord’s call to a fuller life and a greater mission.
In the movement, in the past few decades, many marvelous men and women have become shining examples of Christian witness in all kinds of places and professions. We have also seen numberless initiatives and small and big missionary steps by individuals and groups. When I look at all these, I see people trying their simple ways to live a normal, joyful life in the various places they find themselves. Be a normal, ordinary Christian, blooming where you are planted!
(To Continued)
Comments
Post a Comment