A Voice or an Echo
Table Talk
Setting the Table
Spring is setting in – notice the beauty and freshness of new beginnings. I invite you to close your eyes and imagine the cool refreshing breeze, the aroma, the rays of sunshine peeping through the tree branches. The beauty all around reminds us of who our Creator is, and the love that exists within you, me, and all of creation.
We have each been given our own unique voice, and it is up to us how it will be used in this world. How will you use your voice? What will it say?
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
- Bishop Desmond Tutu
Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Food for Thought
In Lebanon, we have learned that obedience to God comes first – sometimes even before healing!
Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East that has had bad experiences with both its neighbours – Israel and Syria – over the years. In 2011, with the influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, the Church found itself between a rock and a hard place: on the one hand, welcoming Syrian refugees would be challenging for those Lebanese church members whose lives had been, in one way or another, negatively affected by Syrian military presence in Lebanon during the civil war (1975-1990) and beyond. Yet, doing nothing for the multitude of highly vulnerable new neighbours reflected a huge disconnect between what we say and teach, and what we practice as followers of Christ, the one who welcomed the least and the last.
In the end, those churches decided to respond in love and hospitality. They took steps of faith that brought them out of their comfort zone toward a journey of transformation that continues to give glory to God! It has been a learning journey that impacts the lives of both care-givers and care-recipients. One partner noted that God used our work with Syrian refugees to teach us and them about Him, and the first lesson was forgiveness. Another shared that our church had become ‘home’ to all people – Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis. We’d become one family. There is no longer room for condemnation in our church. Only rest, support, and hope!
Exactly so! As people of Hope, we, people of faith – you and I – are called to be agents of Hope! We are called upon by Jesus to stand up for issues of justice – to be a voice that reflects His voice!
As I was walking down a street the other day, my attention was caught by a road sign that said: “Be a voice, not an echo!” As I walked away, I found myself thinking of the current crises that face Lebanon, the Middle East, and beyond – trying to assess if I was being a voice or an echo.
There are so many conflicting perspectives on important issues that affect the lives of many.
Almost every minute of the day, we are being bombarded with messages that stir up feelings of animosity, anger, and hatred. If we’re not careful, the negative noises around us can sway us in this direction or that, and before we know it, we have forgotten the sound of our own “voice” and what our “frame of reference” should be. Are our own perspectives an authentic representation of our values? Or have our voices merely become echoes by allowing them to be swayed by what we are hearing around us?
Sometimes we think a problem or challenge is way beyond what we can do – but we must also remember that what we choose to do, or not to do, says something about our values.
For me, as a Christian, I believe that my model is Jesus and my frame of reference is scripture. Using those as my starting place, I reflect on whether I am being a voice or an echo – and how Jesus might have me offer acts of justice or hope in each situation I face.
I have been reminded over and over again of my own personal responsibility, detailed for us by Jesus in Matthew, “You are the light of the world… In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Let your light shine, indeed! Your voice and mine count – both before God, and within our own respective circles of influence. Let’s not be afraid to shine our light and seek God’s guidance on how we can guard our hearts and serve as agents of hope amidst increasing hopelessness. Small acts of love go a long way!
Change – as our partner churches in Lebanon experienced – starts within us first!
If you enjoy reading about, or listening to current events, try listening to different platforms (that may have opposing views). See if you can see a situation from multiple angles. Allow your conscience and voice to find their way toward responses rooted in love.
Let’s keep asking the question: What would Jesus do in this situation or that? What would He have us do? Ask yourself, how does my response to injustice reflect His love, grace, mercy, and justice?
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
Father God,
You’ve called us salt and light – agents of hope and transformation in a messed up world that is in dire need for your love, grace, and hope. Help us realize that change starts within us first that we may genuinely be YOUR voice and by your grace positively influence those around us and beyond.
A little Table Talk for your table...
What do you think it means to be a “voice” versus an “echo,” and how can we better tune into our own voices?
What are a few ways you can “let your light shine” this week?
What do you think it means to “let your light shine” when you may not understand the perspective of someone else?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Talk with your kiddos about what a “voice” is and what an “echo” is. Discuss where each begins (how the voice begins within you, and the echo just repeats what is first spoken).
Grab a flashlight and take it to a darker part of your home. Try putting it under a bowl and seeing how much light is noticeable. Then put it up on a bookshelf, or a stand of some sort. Talk together about the differences you noticed.
Together, make a list of the ways that Jesus teaches us how to love other people.
Meet our Welcoming Voice!
Alia Abboud is Lebanese and grew up in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Today she serves with Thimar-LSESD, a Christian NGO with a mission to strengthen the witness of the Church in Lebanon and the Arab World. Thimar-LSESD does so especially through the equipping of the Church, and also through programs that address issues of poverty and vulnerability, and that facilitate inclusive special needs education.
To hear more from Alia throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
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