Anna Jarvis, the leader of the early 20th century movement to make Mother’s
Day a national holiday, later fought against the holiday. She felt the day
had become over-commercialized. In fact, she was so frustrated that most
people sent greeting cards on the holiday that she once called the cards,
“a poor excuse for the letter you are too lazy to write.” Jarvis and her
sister spent their family inheritance fighting against the holiday. They
both died in poverty.
The Mother of Mother’s Day
I was reading my newest issue of Relevant Magazine, and in particular was reading the cover story article, “Laying It Down: Learning to Live with Less in a Culture of Excess.”
When we consider this idea of loving our neighbor as ourselves, and we try to reconcile that with the American dream, we hit a wall. Because right now the average American is consuming the same amount as more than 500 Africans. When you think, “How do I love my neighbor as myself?” it becomes just impossible to do that within the worldview of the American dream.
But I think what’s exciting is that Jesus has another dream, and Jesus is offering us another dream. Where it’s not even just this ascetic simplicity—give up everything and be poor—but it’s this idea that God created an economy of enough. God didn’t create a world of scarcity. But we’ve created poverty and need by not living out this command to love our neighbor as ourself.
During this job and moving transition, I’ve most looked forward to all the ‘first’ I would get to experience here in Lubbock. I’ve been in Christian ministry for about 10 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever been this excited about what lays ahead.
For the first time I have a secretary. I real-life secretary that makes copies, prepares camp packets, takes phone calls, and generally makes my life easier. As a person who has always been their own secretary, or forced duties on my wife, I’m thrilled at this development.
For the first time, I’ve started a new job and have been met with enthusiasm by those that will be working along side me. At other jobs, I’ve been told things like, “Wow, I’m so glad you’re here Pastor, because I’m so burned out and have been waiting to quit until you arrived. See you later!” Now I’m greeted with, “Pastor, will you still let me teach and be involved with the children?” Maybe my pastoral friends will be the only ones to appreciate this, but this is HUGE!
For the first time in years, it now only takes me 5 minutes to get to the church where I work. Being a DFW driving veteran, this is also incredible. Seriously, you country folks don’t know how good you have it.
I’m sure there will be many more first, and some of them will not be positive. But, bring them on!
Geesh! I’d like to disassociate with Paula White as soon as possible. It would be interesting to see how much God is paying her to speak at this event. Wouldn’t it?
