“What is that word when a bunch of guys are after you?” "Prostitute..." "I was thinking more along the lines of 'Debutante'." --Sabrina

One of my friends made a comment a while ago that I thought was interesting.

You know, here it is so hard to know if people are interested in you because they really want to know you or just because you're white and they think they can get something from you. They don't necessarily want to build a relationship. Of course, this whole society is kind of built on the maxim, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." Everything seems to come with a price. Someone takes you out to dinner, you can bet (and win) they're going to ask you to teach English to their two-year old, or they'll ask on behalf of their uncle's best friend's cousin whether you would like to teach English at their school in another city on Saturdays and Sundays. It seems like most people just look at your white face and see dollar signs or something else they can get out of you, rather than seeing another person.

My friend Andy commented something to the effect of: "I wonder if that's ever how God feels with us?" You know, it is so easy for us to just turn to God when we need something, like He's just a Mr. Fix-it or a Genie we can call up at will, rather than the living, breathing, personal Creator of the universe who loves us in spite of our indifference. Here I get annoyed with people who constantly want to talk to me, because I feel like I'm a scratching post or something -- there out of convenience, and there for anyone to come and practice on. I forget - all too often - that I often do the same thing with God. I don't always just want to talk to Him purely for the pleasure of hearing His voice. I don't always want to just stand in awe of Him and in reverence to Him. I treat Him like I can put Him into a box and take Him out whenever I need something. And I'm sure that causes Him pain and frustration, just like I get frustrated when people do that to me (except He has more reason to feel that way).

That's just something I've been convicted of a lot recently....

MELITA

O Master of the waking world,

Who hast the nations in Thy heart,

The heart that bled and broke to send

God's love to earth's remotest part

Show us anew in Calvary

The wondrous power that makes men free.

We hear the throb of surging life,

The clank of chains, the curse of greed,

The moan of pain, the futile cries

Of superstition's cruel creed;

The peoples hunger for Thee, Lord;

The world is waiting for Thy Word.

Thy witness in the souls of men,

Thy Spirit's ceaseless, brooding power;

In lands where shadows hide the light,

Await a new creative hour:

O mighty God, set us aflame

To show the glory of Thy name.