These feelings were spurred on by yesterday's fence building experience. Travis, Len, and I returned to Fabian and Marie's house in response to their invitation to see the finished shower that we recommended on our last visit. By using monies set aside in their work fund, Travis was able to help them purchase both the supplies and the manpower to have their shower installed. The plumber/electrician did an amazing job. Unfortunately, the photographer (yours truly) forgot to snap a photo.
Before Marie invited us in for lunch, Len, Travis, and I shored up the pallet fence they have in place for their chickens. On our last visit, the chicks were escaping and the fence was barely standing. For the cost of our $.35 bus tickets and a pound of nails ($1), we were able to stabilize the fence and repair some of the holes. Len even fabricated a makeshift gate out of random pieces of wood! Seeing the finished product made my heart smile as fixing up the fence was something I wanted to do for them since out last visit. Fabian's hands work well for shoe-shining, but are not strong enough to hold a hammer. I can swing a hammer just fine (it is hitting the nail that sometimes causes frustration :), so why not give an hour of my time to improve their living situation? Maria made us a home-cooked meal of cauliflower soup, cooked beans with onions and cilantro, and rice. She scolded us when we tried to excuse ourselves before eating it. We had to allow her to say thank you in her way, even if it meant eating food that is sometimes scarce for the family. She told us when we were done, "If you don't eat, you don't leave!" We all had a good laugh.
May God continue to open our eyes to simple opportunities to serve and may we simply take them as we learn to love our neighbors as ourselves!
Right here is tangible evidence of humanity and empathy and community. God was not part of the equation.
ReplyDeleteMr. T,
ReplyDeleteIt depends on your view of life, but we all can have our opinions.
Indeed, we all are capable of submitting our opinions. But, informed opinions vs faith based opinions are quite different in rationality and logic. One is more likely to be true than the other.
ReplyDeleteT,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your interest in dialoguing with me about God and His place in the equation. Allow me to attempt to speak logically (even though it is late and I've had a long day). If one has an opinion, is that not something that he or she believes to be true? If so, than would not an informed opinion require faith in the same way that a faith-based opinion requires faith? To believe something to be true is to put faith in the source of that information. I think the difference in our perspectives is simply where we choose to put our faith.
You wrote, "One is more likely to be true than the other." Can I ask how you define truth?
I preface my statement below with my sentiments of respect for you, CR. An informed opinion implies that one has read or was told the history and/or present information about a given topic - information that is grounded in reality and based on quantifiable data and/or evidence that was witnessed or observed and documented within the last millennium.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely don't want to open up the can of worms of faith vs quantifiable evidence. This is not the forum for such discussions. I apologize for overstepping my boundaries of your reality.
You are certainly entitled to your beliefs. But, I cringe when you equate human connection to the will of god - you are giving credit to a ghost, rather than acknowledging that your accomplishments were obtained through your will and drive to connect to others. Give yourself the credit - you've earned it.