Blind Eyes See...

Today as I skipped through my routine of camp laundry, listening to camp stories, talent shows, pool games, chilling with my crew as they describe their weeks of refreshment and renewal and how God has spoken to them, I am grateful.  This week "we" were in Brevard, NC @ Young-life Camp Capernium for special needs, Panama City, FL @ SonBurn, youth camp, Morristown, TN @ Manley's Music Camp~ Camp Agape.  And I was @ home, Knoxville, TN.

A time of renewal because we needed it; well need it.  We thought in our minds that renewal would come through a beach vacation...which I crave or some other unique family adventure.  Little did I know, we would begin our journey @ Family Camp in Newport, TN @ Carson Springs.  Transported in golf carts by sacrificial servants giving of their summer. Some knew me from when I just a little girl and some were my age ~ all present to serve by driving me and others to and fro around the mountain-side.  Coming home was both fulfilling and depleting.  It was back to the "real world" where more days than most, "we" feel left out, excluded and or just an observer on the sidelines.  Yet as my sweet kiddos talked and laughed about camp, we were filled with excitement for next year.  Sophia just said, "I can't believe camp was SO long ago.  I can't wait till next summer."

Anxiously waiting for some alone time while all 4 kiddos went their ways, I would take a nap, rest, have coffee and conversations uninterrupted.  Ahh.  You all who have children, can grasp my vision. Well, that week is over and we back in community.  Hearing these precious stories, seeing their faces light up as they talk of their experiences, I am refreshed.  How can that be?  I've been in church my whole life, attended seminary with Scott, worked in summer missions and youth camps...but why now?

It seems to be the life of the church has no walls.  We preach the "body of Christ" and that all serve a purpose or greater good but in reality we do not function in a world that embraces this mission.  I am not angry; it's just the persona that we've come to identify as being a follower of Jesus.  We've institutionalized Jesus and labeled him with our own preferences.  We wrap our laws and orderly conduct calling them a "better living or  better stewardship."  Now don't be offended because I, too, have accepted this identity and find myself fighting against being a church-goer and living out the gospel.

I am wrestling the fact that "we" care more about what rules we have and how they are inforced than we do serving.  I am brought to tears as I see the faces from Katie's Camp Capernium.  Unlike any youth camp I atttended or camp I served, which have been some of the biggest and best, I cannot compare what I saw on the faces of those @ Camp Capernium.

I have a new understanding from my friend's borrowed quote "the special needs community is the marrow of the body of Christ."  I heard this statement and read it.  I tried chewing on the idea that this is/was true but not until this DAY did I see this quote come alive.  It became words that breathed air and began living.

Using Gracie's camp motto...we are the living, not the dead held new meaning.  Yes we are the body...we cannot live without one another but our "least of the these" are the marrow.  My great ideas and thoughtful planning cannot exist without the marrow.  Therefore, until we experience this, we are empty bodies just "doing" church.  We are part of God's work but not fully.

The part of "beyond our imaginations" only comes through seeing the messiest ones, the ones that make us uncomfortable share the unconditional JOY that lives through good news.  The good news of hope.  The good news of grace.  It's from the light in their eyes at being lifted up a mountain, calling it a hike or carried into the water to experience the refreshment of swimming...we who function out of normalcy pride ourselves in giving when a need arises or joining an event to support those less-fortunate.

That's simply not good enough.  If we are the body, the marrow needs us daily, not on holidays.  I like many of my friends live an unexpected journey of "the least of these" ~  we fight disappointment and heartache, forcing ourselves to "throw a party" when little things happen.  None of us would choose this life, yet my blind eyes haven't seen is that we live life alongside those who carry LIFE to the body.

As God's people, we must care for the marrow or our bodies in Jesus will give-way and grow weak.  We must carry those to through the rooftops and not simply pacify with a nod or look.  We are the ones who represent the bones and muscle which must encase God's marrow, protecting it as precious.  We must also let the marrow shine, as it sees Jesus with different eyes.  It maybe a vision of His glory we would miss otherwise.