Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at 2:02am
There is no spot where God is not
SPPLAAAT! SPOOOOGGEEE! OOOOOOZZZEE! I wasn't home. But, I knew who did it. I knew who threw that egg at my house. Some might call them roughnecks — our neighborhood teens. Two of them (they travel in packs) came to my door, asking to cut my lawn. Although I've let the boys in the neighborhood cut my lawn on a couple of occasions, I enjoy it and usually do it myself.
Well, on this particular summer evening they didn't appreciate my trying to be accommodating, "No thanks." I know many of them are looking for honest work or something to do during the summer, but it just didn't seem right to pay them for something I can do.
I had my lawnmower out in the driveway readying to mow the lawn when they came to my door. The two who came grumbled something unintelligible as they turned on their heels. After a little time had passed, I went out to do the job.
Outside the pack was sitting on the curb staring at my house. I wanted to say, "Please don't take this personally, I'm not trying to be mean." As I mowed I thought about ways I could help them. "Do they know about the Boys Club up the road?" "Have they heard about Teen Job Corps doing a trial run in our city?"
They sat in front of my house until dark. And when I returned home from work the next day, I was greeted by a crusted, sun-baked egg on my door.
Ordinarily, this might elicit a laugh or an "I remember when I was their age" remark. But, this was the last straw in a series of events in my neighborhood that demanded action.
The youth in my neighborhood seemed to grow a hard edge overnight. They would walk through the yards of people they didn't know and leave trash or linger playing loud music. More and more they seemed an intimidating lot who traveled about our community without supervision. "Where were their parents?" I thought aloud, exasperated.
When I saw that egg on my door, I thought: "I have to do something." So I started praying. I have grown accustomed to relying on prayer to correct all problems large or small, personal, community or global.
As a student of Christian Science, I am forever learning more about God's "allness" and the fact that we, as his children, can't be separated from him and his love. We are all God's children and He, our Father-Mother, God, is our divine Parent.
Think about all the wonderful Bible Stories of childhood and youth. Stories of little Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel and even Jesus protected and guided by God every step of the way. They remind me of this simple rule I learned in a Christian Science Sunday School, "There is no spot where God is not." That rule always empowered me as a child because I thought if God is all and everywhere then everything is good and will be alright, -is alright.
As I prayed it occurred to me how very much I love our children and youth. Besides the fact that they say the darnedest of things and are full of energy they evoke an undeniable sincerity or purity. That purity comes from God and is recognizable because it is in us big children as well. I like to think of that pure manifestation or expression of God as the Christ. I realized in that instant that I needed to behold the Christ in the children and youth in my community and defend it. By defend I mean not accepting tags like troubled or rough or vandal as their attributes. Instead, behold the intelligence, receptivity, ingenuity, and joy that define all of God's children.
Now, I was gratefully clear and humbled by my prayer. I realized that up to now I had been viewing the children and youth in my community incorrectly. I wasn't seeing them as God sees them. This change in perspective was my answer, my response.
Over the next few months, changes in my community began taking place. I had opportunities to engage with some of our youth. For instance, I drove one teenage girl to the bus stop and we ended up talking about college. I was able to share with her that college provides one a great opportunity to think, try new things, and meet interesting people. She really appreciated that. I spoke with one of the boys about the Boys Club up the road and he promised to look into it.
Now, I found myself cherishing my community. I offered to paint the garage door of my neighbor who had five teenagers living with her. She was so moved. Her teens saw a practical example of loving your neighbor like yourself.
A noticeable shift was taking place in our neighborhood. We began talking to one another and acting more like a community that cared about its residents.
Later that year I became a citizen advocate for a young boy diagnosed with a developmental disorder. His mother needed someone to support him in finding a school that would best meet his needs. Soon after working with his mother and successfully identifying such a school (which subsequently accepted him), I was asked if I'd be interested in being a high school Sunday School teacher for the church I attend.
This experience was a great reminder to me of how we can and should bring a spiritual response to bear on the problems we face in our communities and our world. It is no coincidence that the change in my community occurred as my thought (and the thoughts of other residents who I'm sure were praying about this issue) changed. Spiritualizing my thought or seeing the community as God sees it brought the needed adjustment. Prayer that aligns our thoughts with God is not the least but the most we can do.
— — —
Kwadjo Boaitey is a lifelong Christian Scientist devoted to uplifting public thought and serves as the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Georgia. He lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia with his wife, the lovely Karama. You can send him an email at {email kwadjosun@gmail.com}kwadjosun@gmail.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Kwadjo Boaitey
— — —
UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum is a big tent for all expressions
of faith and spirituality, neither excluding nor favoring any.
All opinions expressed belong to the writer alone, and are
not necessarily shared by UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum.
Well, on this particular summer evening they didn't appreciate my trying to be accommodating, "No thanks." I know many of them are looking for honest work or something to do during the summer, but it just didn't seem right to pay them for something I can do.
I had my lawnmower out in the driveway readying to mow the lawn when they came to my door. The two who came grumbled something unintelligible as they turned on their heels. After a little time had passed, I went out to do the job.
Outside the pack was sitting on the curb staring at my house. I wanted to say, "Please don't take this personally, I'm not trying to be mean." As I mowed I thought about ways I could help them. "Do they know about the Boys Club up the road?" "Have they heard about Teen Job Corps doing a trial run in our city?"
They sat in front of my house until dark. And when I returned home from work the next day, I was greeted by a crusted, sun-baked egg on my door.
Ordinarily, this might elicit a laugh or an "I remember when I was their age" remark. But, this was the last straw in a series of events in my neighborhood that demanded action.
The youth in my neighborhood seemed to grow a hard edge overnight. They would walk through the yards of people they didn't know and leave trash or linger playing loud music. More and more they seemed an intimidating lot who traveled about our community without supervision. "Where were their parents?" I thought aloud, exasperated.
When I saw that egg on my door, I thought: "I have to do something." So I started praying. I have grown accustomed to relying on prayer to correct all problems large or small, personal, community or global.
As a student of Christian Science, I am forever learning more about God's "allness" and the fact that we, as his children, can't be separated from him and his love. We are all God's children and He, our Father-Mother, God, is our divine Parent.
Think about all the wonderful Bible Stories of childhood and youth. Stories of little Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel and even Jesus protected and guided by God every step of the way. They remind me of this simple rule I learned in a Christian Science Sunday School, "There is no spot where God is not." That rule always empowered me as a child because I thought if God is all and everywhere then everything is good and will be alright, -is alright.
As I prayed it occurred to me how very much I love our children and youth. Besides the fact that they say the darnedest of things and are full of energy they evoke an undeniable sincerity or purity. That purity comes from God and is recognizable because it is in us big children as well. I like to think of that pure manifestation or expression of God as the Christ. I realized in that instant that I needed to behold the Christ in the children and youth in my community and defend it. By defend I mean not accepting tags like troubled or rough or vandal as their attributes. Instead, behold the intelligence, receptivity, ingenuity, and joy that define all of God's children.
Now, I was gratefully clear and humbled by my prayer. I realized that up to now I had been viewing the children and youth in my community incorrectly. I wasn't seeing them as God sees them. This change in perspective was my answer, my response.
Over the next few months, changes in my community began taking place. I had opportunities to engage with some of our youth. For instance, I drove one teenage girl to the bus stop and we ended up talking about college. I was able to share with her that college provides one a great opportunity to think, try new things, and meet interesting people. She really appreciated that. I spoke with one of the boys about the Boys Club up the road and he promised to look into it.
Now, I found myself cherishing my community. I offered to paint the garage door of my neighbor who had five teenagers living with her. She was so moved. Her teens saw a practical example of loving your neighbor like yourself.
A noticeable shift was taking place in our neighborhood. We began talking to one another and acting more like a community that cared about its residents.
Later that year I became a citizen advocate for a young boy diagnosed with a developmental disorder. His mother needed someone to support him in finding a school that would best meet his needs. Soon after working with his mother and successfully identifying such a school (which subsequently accepted him), I was asked if I'd be interested in being a high school Sunday School teacher for the church I attend.
This experience was a great reminder to me of how we can and should bring a spiritual response to bear on the problems we face in our communities and our world. It is no coincidence that the change in my community occurred as my thought (and the thoughts of other residents who I'm sure were praying about this issue) changed. Spiritualizing my thought or seeing the community as God sees it brought the needed adjustment. Prayer that aligns our thoughts with God is not the least but the most we can do.
— — —
Kwadjo Boaitey is a lifelong Christian Scientist devoted to uplifting public thought and serves as the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Georgia. He lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia with his wife, the lovely Karama. You can send him an email at {email kwadjosun@gmail.com}kwadjosun@gmail.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Kwadjo Boaitey
— — —
of faith and spirituality, neither excluding nor favoring any.
All opinions expressed belong to the writer alone, and are
not necessarily shared by UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum.