I was kidding with people about 9-9-09 being a big day because the number 9 being a supposed lucky number. Think Beatles White Album number 9 or the fact that many young couples got married yesterday at 9:09am or pm…
But I did not think I would be dialing 911 2 times on 9-9. Since hitting the streets dialing 911 is like calling an old friend to set up a lunch or time to have coffee. It is not a good thing but it is a real thing. Or maybe it is a lucky thing to have the opportunity to actually be there when it is going down? Sometimes I am not sure.
I think I would rather be with these people during these times than not be there at all, but I would like to see a day when 911 is not called by anyone anywhere. And you know it is bad when you dial 911 and you get a message that all the lines are busy? What does that mean Santa Barbara?
And the strange thing was, that I called 911 at two different places within two hours and had the same police report to both scenes and wonder how was I at both places and in both situations as well. That took some explaining… am I become a 911 sort of ambulance chaser?
So case number one is a good friend from Pershing Park at his lowest point ever he tells me and is on the brink. I can’t tell you the whole story here but just to let you know that suicide was a definite reality. So it was an hour of keeping him calm as he both wanted help and wanted to run, while waiting for the police and trying to flag them down. At one point I was in the middle of a softball field trying to flag down the police while also yelling at my friend that he needed to sit down and not run away. Well, bottom line is now he is getting some needed help. We will stay in touch with him and what we can do next.
The next call came from the Village on the West Side. I won’t go into details here either excepts say it was a family in crisis and it is also still in the works today. But what I did get to see is a bunch of wonderful young Westmont students and helpers at the Village stay with kids as the police came and tried to sort things out. People made pizza for the kids, brought them snacks, read them stories to keep their attention. It takes a Village at the Village and the surrounding West Side.
So do the math and you arrive at Isaiah 61. You can read it for yourself, but it begins with the calling of Christ and the Year of Jubilee. The work of God will be freedom and the way of Christ will be incarnational. He will not be distant from the needs of humanity but will center Himself right in there. Literally He will pitch His tent in the center of camp and be in the worst situations possible. Any reading of Mark 1-3 will remind us of all the situations He placed Himself in…
We don’t wait for some ethereal calling because that may never become, but we become obedient to the ever present calling as presented in the gospels.
I don’t want you to have the 911 call and I do want you to make the 911 call at the same time. I am amazed that Westmont students anywhere from 18-22 years of age are doing this and living at the Village? They have not run to the hills yet. So thanks to you – I believe you will be the incarnational foundational leadership for the coming church, where mission will not be an option and not set aside for the few.
Talking straight – the population on the razor’s edge is immense. I have heard from some people that we do not go because of the need – but I differ. I believe Jesus came because of the need. Remember the compassion of Christ when He saw so many without a shepherd.
I am not Jesus but understand that it is not a choice or an option to become like Him – it is the whole energy of the redemptive universe put into play to make me become like Him, and I have to join in.
I already have my mantra for the end of this year, and for 2010. It will be the year of living generously. Forgive me ahead of time for asking alot, because I will be on facebook, tweeting, emailing, hopefully churches will still have me share, perhaps dressed in a giant blueberry outfit and riding a unicycle to get attention for the least of these and the forgotten and the neglected and end up in an institution enjoying pudding (I hope you will visit!)
So do the math and here is to the year of living generously!