Give and Criticism Will Be Given Unto You

Forgive the distortion of Scripture in the title, but it seemed appropriate for this topic.

Thanks to the Six Seeds parenting e-zine, I learned an interesting story about the University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt. He and his wife put their lakefront second home up for sale in order to donate more money to World Vision to help those in poverty. Last year they read The Hole in Our Gospel (which I blogged about here) by Richard Stearns, who was president of World Vision. As he told Chip Towers, who wrote the blog post:

So I’m reading this book and it really affected me. It helped me realize that what we have is way more than we need and that our ability to give is hindered by this property.

I love when God reaches out and talks to someone (including me) about how we personally can show compassion, about how he wants us to be involved in social justice or fighting poverty in our situation.

Unfortunately, when you do respond to what God is saying, it seems criticism is the next gift you get. For Richt, first it was speculation that he was selling the house because his job was threatened due to his team's poor record last year. Once Towers' blog was posted telling of their true motivation, more criticism followed in the blog comments section. People who wondered why he didn't have enough money to give already with his salary. People who were sure this was just a coverup for fear of a job loss. People who judged his motives, his behavior, his relationship with God.

It was a good reminder that no matter what we do, criticism will come. As the apostles Peter and John said, "It's better to obey God than men" because you can't please them anyway, I would add.

What has God ever told you to do that others have criticized you for? Les and I have experienced it multiple times when we invited people to live with us, whether for a few weeks or forever, as in the case of our daughter. I'm so glad we chose not listen to the critics because the blessings and joy have been tremendous (even in the midst of pain that sometimes came).

Don't be afraid to obey God and to ignore the critics. His voice is the one that matters. Share your story of obedience with us so we too can be encouraged (and we promise not to criticize).

What's That All About Anyway?

I've been blogging since 2005, and until this year my blog appeared on my website (where you can still access the archives). Maybe you are a newer reader, and you wonder why I called this blog I'm No Superstar. As I wrote my first day on the blog, I chose the title I'm No Superstar because it's true.

I've never been a superstar. I'm good at lots of things, but I am not great at anything, not a superstar. (It was a rude realization for the woman who used to have a poster on her wall that said, "To be good is not enough when you dream of being great.") And maybe you aren't a superstar either. But that's okay. I want us to be whom God made us to be and do the things God called us to do. I want us to discover together how we can make a difference in our world just as average people.

I spent time ten days ago at a writers conference, in a track on compassion, justice and advocacy writing. It was amazing to meet John Perkins, hear Tony Campolo, and interact with people who are on the front lines, leading the justice movement. But honestly, I am not there. I am a foot soldier, and sometimes a reluctant one at that, or really a supply line person. I believe my place is to support those who are in the trenches, whether financially or as a volunteer. 

It's taken me a lot of years to get to the place where I am (mostly) comfortable with being the person God created me to be and doing the work he has given me (including being a rural pastor's wife). I want to allow God to challenge me, I don't want to get lazy or too comfortable, so I read things on compassion and justice, look for opportunities I can be a part of and/or share with others through this blog.

I hope you find it encouraging, especially if you don't consider yourself a superstar either. Help us out; let us know what your favorite justice and compassion ministry is, so the rest of us can check it out. Maybe it’s a place we can shine.