Last week I talked about the power of language – saying what you mean and meaning what you say – and this week’s post continues on that theme. We take our name SPIRT in ACTION very seriously and we see the work of our organization as a way engage our spirits in global, good works. This week, a long-time SIA partner from India, Chandra Ezekiel shares a story about the importance of this action for her.
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From Serenity (March-April 2011), a newsletter from CFOI Chennai, India:
Glenn Clark’s most valuable writings are to be our guide in the life of Camps Farthest Out (CFO) campers. On page 81 in [his book “Fishers of Men”] it is written as follows:
“I once heard, of a philosopher who was discoursing beautifully to some friends upon the joy of the meditative life and the bliss of Nirvana when he was interrupted by cries outside his window of a child who was dieing of cold and exposure. The philosopher rose quickly, went to the window and shut out the sound.”
“Much as we all need to withdraw occasionally to the mountain top, still more do we need to go down to the valley and save men from suffering and sin.”
What does God expect of us, at the Valley?
In Matt Ch. 25, it is said, “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in – (v.35) – Naked and clothed me, I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came unto me.” (v.36), verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it into one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me.” (v.40)
While CFO camps take us up to “The Mountain Top” to enjoy the spiritual experience with our Lord, Spirit in Action takes us down to “The Valley” to help the helpless and the deserving.
Camily Wedende (Kenya) brings his passion for solar cookers to his work. He train women in refugee camps to build and use the cookers.
They are the lonely, the depressed, the oppressed, the neglected, the sick, and the weak who need a little bit of our time to be spent with them in prayer and encouragement. It may go a long way to make them realize that the love of God is there to save them from their situations.
[The spiritual experience] as well as the organization Spirit in Action together go hand in hand to enable the individual to become a complete personality, putting his/her soul, mind and body in balance.
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