Truth: Do you want fries with that?

Hello reader.

It's hard to believer the month of September is almost at an end. It seems as though it stumbled in the front door, tripped through the house, and is about to fall comically out the back door.

Here in Israel, the time has already changed, so the morning sun creeps in rather early, and leaves all too soon in the evening. That, and we are in the middle of the High Holy Days. Last week was Rosh Hashanna (new year), Yom Kippur (day of atonement) is this week (sundown the 25 to sundown the following day), and Sukkot (feast of tabernacles) is following close behind. (I think I will take time later this week to talk more of the holidays.)

This morning as I was raking leaves (which I find to be quite satisfying), I was thinking about this blog, and what I wanted to write about. I haven't written in a while, so I thought maybe I should write something about Israel and the holidays and whatnot. However, I have decided to take a different approach and write on something completely different, though not at all irrelevant. 

I was talking to a believer who started asking all these hard questions. For instance, why does God let this happen? Why didn't he just stop with creating the animals when he knew we were going to mess up royally? Why? Now don't balk or start judging. We've all been there if we are really honest and vulnerable. We've all wondered if God is "soooo good" then why does he let us go through whatever or allow whatever to happen. Why am I going through this when I'm trying so hard to follow hard after you? Even the strongest of believers (like this believer I was talking to) have times where their inward being groans with the weight of a fallen world. It's not that they'd ever give up on their faith...because they know-they've tasted and seen. They just need someone to come camp out on the battlefield beside them, and listen. Someone to offer a cool drink for their parched throat, and balm for their wounds. 

So, here were all these questions being pointed at me...begging for an answer. So what did I do? I let her question and would reply the only way I know how-"I don't know." Now, don't sit there so shocked. I know you were expecting me to answer her with some profound truth or pull out some fantastic bible verse. But the truth is, I don't have all of the answers. Believers don't have all the answers. There. I said it. The secret is out guys.

It's like believers are the workers at a restaurant. You've got people (believers or not) coming in wanting food. And instead of giving them real truth, we sugar coat it or give some warmed over cliche.

"Hi. Welcome to Tasty Truths. How can I help you?"

"Um...well I'm feeling a bit down. My life is just a mess and I'm not sure what to do. Maybe you have something that can pick me up?"

"Why yes. I can get you the TheresAReasonForEverything Special. It comes with the FizzyWarmFuzzy drink."

"That sounds amazing."

"Yes. And would you like fries with that? They come with our special DontWorryBeHappy sauce."

Come on people. Really? I don't want that. And I don't want to be like that. Not really, if I'm honest. I don't want to believe something just because it's a "truth" I've been told my whole life. Some nice little saying that I've heard passed around since I was young. I don't want to be offering twice baked cliches that will only make the sickness worse. That's not what it's about. I'm tired of living that way. I want to offer living water-I want to love well. I want to serve with a cheerful heart. Even if, sometimes, it means I swallow my pride and say, "You know, I don't know." I think it should go more like this:

"Hey. You alright?"

"No. I'm feeling..."

"Go on, you can tell me."

"I'm just feeling a little lonely today is all; the kind of lonely where you feel it even if you're in a crowded room. I don't know why."

"I'm sorry you feel lonely. I'll just sit with you a while and hold your hand. And if you'd like I'll cry with you and cry out to God with you about your hurt."

That's what I'm finding here where I am. In the midst of the day-to-day messiness of humanity. It's funny, people are people, no matter the culture or language. I can't fix it all. I can't answer all the questions. I can't lay out some magic formula for happiness.

But I can be real. Utterly real and human. And, sometimes, that's the best approach. So, that's where I'll be, not serving fries warmed by the lamplight of apathy, but on the battlefield squatting by a fellow traveler and warrior offering a hand to hold or an ear to listen.

Bus 12

Hello friends. I hope this blog post finds you well. Yes, by now we are into September. Schools have started, life has returned to a steady routine, and, hopefully, the weather will begin to cool with the passing of the days.

How are things on you're side of the pond? Glad you asked. Today has been "one of those days". No, I don't mean the kind where you're so busy and frustrated you just want to pull out your hair (or the person's hair next to you). I'm talking one of those days where a person can feel absolutely and extremely useless. I'm not saying that I'm one of those people that has to constantly be doing something; I rather enjoy a quiet afternoon with a book every once in a while. However, when I gear myself up for a day of productivity and the day doesn't follow like I'd envisioned...well, that's annoying.

You see, at the Kehila, we are gearing up for the holidays, which are fast approaching. With the holidays comes the need for humanitarian aid. So I spent yesterday helping to get bags of food ready for distribution. We got alot done yesterday. I returned to help today...only the work didn't take as long as it did yesterday. And then I sat for an hour and a half waiting to see if there was anything else I could do (I should be doing something-painting more trellises, stacking more boxes/bags, cleaning, sweating, nicking myself with a box cutter here, bruising my leg on a pallet there...you get the picture). Finally, I gave up and decided to take the bus back to my host home.

Ear buds blaring Matisyahu in my ears, marching-left right left right-down to the bus stop and waiting for the bus...and waiting and waiting. Seriously, I could be doing something and not sitting waiting for the bus...in the heat...with this old lady who thinks that she should take my seat so now I'm standing and waiting for the bus...in the heat. And then-Should you be doing something? Or should you be doing something? Oh. I recalled a few weeks ago when a friend of mine suggested (half kidding, half serious) that I should just take random buses and pray over the country, the city, the people. Okay. Okay. We'll start with bus 12. It's not random; it's the bus I have to take to get back to where I'm staying so I can't get too lost.

So, now I'm sitting on bus 12, watching people go in and out, watching students get on heading home from school. Sitting on bus 12, on an isle seat with no one next to me until a lady comes and asks me to scoot over even though there are other empty seats on the bus all by their lonesome. Sitting on bus 12, rolling passed shops and bus stops and the sea, wondering if I have missed my stop because I have no idea where I am. Sitting on bus 12, praying I haven't missed my stop because that would be awful. Sitting on bus 12, realizing my friend had told me bus 12 would take me home, and realizing I trust her so therefore I shouldn't freak. Sitting on bus 12, recognizing where I am and thanking the Lord for giving me peace, a good friend, and not letting me flip out. Sitting on bus 12, remembering what I've blogged in the past about needing to feel validated, when Yeshua just wants me to love people. Sitting on bus 12, people watching and praying (even praying for the lady next to me who is crowding me practically wanting me to notice to pray for her). Getting off bus 12 a stop early, just so I can walk and pray, pray and walk.

What does tomorrow hold? Of that I am not quite certain. But I do know that Yeshua is full of surprises. And maybe, just maybe, I'll have another date with him sometime soon on bus 12.

"The gates of hell will tremble when love becomes the anthem that we sing. Sickness will be silenced when this all-consuming power fills our streets, my love, so come quickly. When love comes to a nation, justice will bow. When love comes to a nation, all dividing walls will come crashing down. When hope shines in a nation, darkness will flee. When hope shines on a nation, every prisoner will be released. I am the sound, I have the voice. I am the movement, open the door. I am the sound, I have the voice. I am the movement, unlock my roar. I am Yeshua to this city. I am Yeshua to this nation, Yeshua to the world."-Unlock My Roar, Daniel Bashta