From the August 2010 Evangel

For years now I have been suffering from an acute case of guilt.  I cannot pinpoint when this first overshadowed my life but it has been with me now for quite awhile and at times it has almost broken me.  What brings this guilt of mine to light is the discord between what I say and what I do, what I belief and what I live, what I hope for and what is.  I feel guilty because I want this world to be a better place for the roughly four billion people who are desperately poor but find it extremely difficult to change the world; and especially difficult to change my lifestyle to help make the world better.  I am convicted every time I hear the voice of God speaking through the prophets about how the wealthy abuse the poor.  I am found among those whom God condemns for not feeding the hungry and not finding ways to make things better for the poor and oppressed.

I recycle, drive fuel efficient cars, use reusable shopping bags, turn off lights, only wash clothes and dishes when I have full loads, pray for the poor, donate money and food for the hungry, and do all sorts of other things to improve the planet and care for the needy.  But I am haunted by the simple fact that none of this really helps address the critical needs and causes of poverty, none of this really impacts my life and lifestyle.  I am still pretty content and comfortable and haven’t had to change how I live.

Things changed last month, my wife Amy introduced me to the book Everyday Justice by Julie Clawson.  Finally I have found a resource to help me make little changes in my daily life that can and do have an impact in vital ways upon the injustice of our world.  I now have a tool to help me see ways to change what I do, what I buy, and how I live that will remove my guilt and help me live out Micah’s vision of doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.

I think that I am not alone in my suffering from the torment of guilt about this.  So I am calling on you, the people of Vermont Hills church to join with me in an effort to change the world by changing our everyday lives.  Starting September 12 the Adult Sunday School Class will study Julie Clawson’s book.  Those who cannot attend the class will be given the opportunity to participate in some way in studying this book as well.  After we have finished our study recommendations will be made as to ways to change how our church functions on a daily basis so that we can be an agent of justice, peace and love without our community and world.

 I am not sure what things will look like, how individuals will put into practice what they learn but I do know that we can do this that we can move beyond our guilt and into a place where justice is a part of our everyday lives and we are doing something tangible and effective that will change our world.

 See you in Worship!

 Rev. Tim O-H