I titled this post a "chapter summary" in reference to the perspective I've had for a while now, of life being lived in seasons, or chapters if you will. I've had seasons of varying lengths and diverse environments throughout my 22 years on this earth. This new season in Lynchburg with a new job was definitely a movement into something novel and unfamiliar. A story within the story, for example, is the previous month of my life working on the assembly floor. Today concluded my month of work on the assembly floor. I decided to work today's shift, 5am to 11am, partly because I wanted to finish the job we were working on and partly to show the guys on the floor that I appreciate their working with me for the past four weeks and I don't mind helping them. As an engineer with the company, I've been told my customers, in a sense, are the assembly guys. They have to take my design and build the finished product. So I see the past month as both a learning experience and a way to build relationships with the guys out there. I'd like to think I was successful on both counts.
In an earlier post (here), I talked about meeting a guy at work who had quite an interesting story and life trajectory. After finishing my time on the assembly floor, I figured I could update you on what I've found out. I've been able to work with him off and on since that day, and I've learned different things about his walk in life and perspective. We share many of the same views on social justice and eradicating poverty and oppression. His goals in life are to use his talents to help lift others from destruction within the context of disaster relief and to help create a more sustainable world through adobe homes and gardening.
One of the biggest tenets of his life is to never stop questioning. He said he can't stand people who uncritically swallow whatever opinions are given to them, never considering the implications for their own lives or whether those opinions are true. In the realms of theology and philosophy, he is a very open-minded person who is very accepting of diverse beliefs. We do not share some beliefs and convictions, but I agree with his assertion that questioning and discussion of important issues are paramount in our churches and our society.
Case in point. While he does not agree with me that Jesus was God incarnate, we found common ground in my belief that the best hope for our world is the way of Christ lived out as it is meant to be. Caring for the least of these. Unconditional love for any person, regardless of color, creed, ideology, affiliation, or action. Giving hope to the hopeless. Lighting a candle, as it were, in the darkness. I asked him how he felt about spiritual matters, and he said he felt he was on a journey, a search for truth. That resonated with me, because although he doesn't believe as I do, he is open to discussion and will continue the search for truth. I feel that truth can be found through Christ, and to that end I gave him a book by Shane Claiborne (check it out) that I found helpful and enlightening as I walk my own journey of life. We agreed that as he was moving out west, he could read it, think about it, and then pass it along to someone else who was on this search for truth.
Another man I met at work has quite a different story. He had a hard life growing up, and counts himself lucky to have made it this far in life. He's in his late 50's. He noticed my vtONE bracelet one day (vtONE) and starting telling me about his faith journey. He claims to follow Christ and that he has essentially learned things about God on his own. While readily admitting he is not perfect and has made mistakes, I see in him a willingness to learn, grow, and seek God in different aspects of his life. He's told me a lot about his current troubles, and I praise God for His Spirit being a guiding light and a friend to this man through me.
I hope to keep in touch with both of these guys over the next few months to see how their lives are going. Soli Deo Gloria.
