Giving & Taking

It’s funny how our faith – not the doctrinaire, creedal clap-trap, but the messy, living-in-the-real-world stuff – can get tested in curious ways.  On the day I write this reflection two things happened: we closed on our new home in Renton and my motorcycle rain gear was stolen from the church.  I rejoice at my blessings on the former, but as for the latter …

I must admit my first reaction was “Somebody’s going to get pounded.”  Not exactly a “Christian” response but pretty human.  Curiously I had a very similar thing happen years ago during the first month at another church, only that time it was a winter jacket.    And my initial response that time was pretty much the same and in both instances the evidence suggested the removal was committed by a homeless person. 

But both times after my temperature dropped my faith climbed; for me to lose a coat or rain gear is an irritant but not the end of the world.  Back then I was cold for a few days and this time I will be wet for a few days – not exactly Armageddon.  While I won’t say that it does not aggravate me to need to replace the gear, the truth is that I have a warm home in which to dry off, a loving wife and family to embrace, a job I love, and good friends.  My life is not so bad; in fact, it is really great!  Faith reminds me that I must never confuse temporary inconvenience with authentic loss.

Some folks are cold and wet every day, with little option for changing the situation.  Some folks don’t have any supportive family or friends and little hope of finding them.  Some folks live each day with authentic loss rather than minor inconvenience.  And while I don’t condone theft, I do know that when we are miserable we commit acts that might otherwise be alien to our behavior.  I choose to affirm that the act was inappropriate but the need was great.

So I got on the internet, ordered some new rain gear and will be grateful that I can stay dry on a rainy day.  It costs me some inconvenience and a couple of bucks, but that is all.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer compared “cheap grace” with “costly grace” and the truth is that we too often proclaim our faith in words but are unwilling to pay any price what-so-ever.  Of what value is a faith if it does not cost us a little bit now and then?

See you in church!