loving the rejected

As I was driving home from Ann Arbor yesterday God laid this idea on my heart. I was at a baby shower for David's cousin, Nan, and was able to spend time with some dear friends. My good friend, mentor, role model, RuthAnn was sharing some things with me during the party that will help introduce this post. So we recently had a situation with the new house where a lawyer was needed- RuthAnn's husband, Kyle, teaches law at the UofM so we contacted him to see if he could help with our situation. He was able to connect us with a great lawyer who did give us some initial help. Anyway, he knows Detroit and knows the location of the new house to be in an "interesting" spot and shared some of his nervousness with Kyle- then Kyle was sharing how we are going to Burundi for 6 weeks- and then he said something about how not only do we have hearts to serve over seas in areas with very limited medical care, but when we come back we go to live in a dangerous part of our own country- where there is a great need for medical care. I am NOT saying this to praise ourselves or for you to praise- it's only an entry into the post!

So I was thinking about what RuthAnn was saying on my drive. I was thinking about all the things that we are passionate about and the things God has put on our hearts.... A few images came to my mind as I was driving... Bentley, friends in Detroit, and what I think I might see while in Burundi. I began to think about how Bentley is a rejected one. He isn't rejected as individual most days (although I do get crazy comments and questions!)- but his syndrome is rejected. 90% of Americans don't want to have a child with Down syndrome-- so I think it's safe to say he's a rejected one.



Next, Detroit. Detroit is a rejected city. It's a rejected city historically- all the whites leaving in the famously quoted, "white flight". Today most living in surrounding suburbs think we are crazy for living in the inner city- even around the country- but those living in a close proximity seem to have a stronger negative reaction- and mostly people I don't know but meet at the park or when I'm out. It's rejected by skilled workers- I get that there aren't a lot of jobs- but we DO have a need better social workers and teachers... and leaders in general. Usually when someone makes it out of Detroit for college and does well they don't return- and who can blame them- but think what an incredible influence a native Detroit person can have vs. people who move in!


Finally, Burundi. Burundi is a country that is in really bad shape because of decades of a civil war between the Hutus and Tutsis- yep, just like Rwanda, but a longer lasting war. Burundi doesn't have anything to offer the tourist- so most don't go- even all the beautiful national parks have been shut down for 10 years- I think.
God has brought these three places for me to love today only by HIS grace and HIS development of my heart. Bentley is a GIFT- I did nothing to receive a child with Down syndrome- All I ever did was follow the Lord's leading to love this beautiful child, and because we have Bentley I have become ultra passionate about children with Down syndrome and have developed a desire to advocate for their rights in school and to simply be given life.

The Lord led us to Detroit. He shut the door to stay in Tucson. It was our only option. We fled from Detroit for 18 months (which turned out OK because we do have a great group of friends in Ann Arbor- but we still fled). When God made it obvious that we needed to flee no more and come to the place He had called us- we went- and here we are. Upon arriving in Detroit, 2 years ago, all the issues of this city began piling up on my heart. I would never have realized the injustices and pain inflicted upon and occurring in this city if I hadn't come here. Once again, nothing I did- but what God has been revealing to me.
God gave me a heart for Rwanda 7 years ago when we went to see Hotel Rwanda on a date in the theater in Phoenix. I didn't want to leave the movie theater. I was sobbing. I had no idea this had happened- and it was that week that the genocide was declared in Darfur- and I just kept thinking- it's happening somewhere else. It has been a dream of mine to go Rwanda to be among the hurting- not that I can offer anything or do anything- but that I can face the pain and see the reality of sin and experience something beyond the superficial. It's not Rwanda that I get to see, but Burundi- a place right next door- with similar pains and histories. It's the place God is leading us.

I think it's good to stop every so often and reflect on what God is leading you into. For what things has he give you a heart for?
I think God has called us- all believers- to love the rejected. It's easy to love the glamorous things the world offers- but to love the rejected ones is really hard. First of all, it's really painful when you become so passionate about something that most people don't want to be part of. It breaks my heart when I know people who would terminate their baby if it had DS (yes, I have been told that). It breaks my heart that I can't get more people to come help us in Detroit- because I am PASSIONATE about seeing God change this city. And it breaks my heart that Burundi is in the state it's in- and there's not really much we can do- for sooo many reasons. It's also hard to love the rejected ones because it is a totally different course than most people go- so a lot of times I feel alone- or crazy- or both! As Christians this is our only opportunity to love and care for the rejected ones because when we go to heaven- there won't be any rejected or broken or poor! This is our chance to share that love that has been given us through Christ.
So stop and reflect today- who are the rejected ones that God has put on your heart to love and CARE for? Don't just be passionate about that- but ask God to lead you into action to care. It might be college students- or foster children- or immigrants- or someone with a handicap- or ....???? How can you share the love of Christ with that person or place?
I'll end with one of my FAVORITE verses from 1 Corinthians 1:

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[d]

May we continue to be a body of believers who love and serve....