The Prodigal Life

What if "Do Justice" meant something more than what we've made it out to be? I grew up in a Christian family where the value of Micah 6:8, "Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." infiltrated everything we did. But this summer I've been wrestling with what justice really is. Is it just caring about the less fortunate? Is it giving to foundations and organizations whose missions focus on bringing that justice to others around the world? Is it buying fair trade coffee? What is justice? I'm sure it includes all these things. But I'm also sure it has to be more than the socially cool care and concern we've made it out to be! During my time in Haiti the issue of "justice" was brought into focus in a strange way for me. There is no running water, at least where we were in the country. Therefore, each day water had to be carried from the well about 1/3 mile down the road. We used this water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing (...

I recently returned from an 8 day trip to Haiti, the poorest country in our hemisphere. It was an incredible experience for which I am very thankful.... because it redefined Haiti for me.  I traveled with 5 other InterVarsity staff. We went with a charge--to scout out the land, experience the culture, get to know the people, and see if there might be opportunities to plant a new Global Urban Trek . InterVarsity's Treks offer students and staff opportunities to live alongside the urban poor in the world's slums for 6 weeks. Why? We want to wrestle with issues of social justice and learn what it really means to love radically and carry each other's burdens. I believe the poor have something to teach us, but we must set aside lifestyle barriers, stereotypes, and preconceived notions if we want to learn from them. Many of the lessons they have to teach about life and about God are difficult to learn from the distance and comfort of a hotel room--so we want to move in with them...