Treasure

How has the neighborhood changed since you’ve been there? What’s the biggest difference from when you first moved in? I get asked questions like these once in awhile. And I feel like I’ve heard it more often recently. It’s a fair question. We want to see progress and change. We want to know that something we’ve invested in is doing what it’s supposed to, making an impact in people’s lives, and changing things for the better. If what we’re doing isn’t producing change or doing something different that was happening before, than why do we do it?

Well, I don’t know how to answer those questions. What is the way to measure if I’ve been “successful”? Is the crime rate lower? Are there less foreclosures on the block? Are there fewer fights between kids? Are there less people living in poverty? I don’t think I can answer a definite yes to any of those. I don’t know if I can give positive answers to a lot of questions like that. But what I can say is that I’ve been changed. I’m different than when I moved in. I have been changed by neighbors’ generosity. I have been changed by hearing the perspective of those Jesus says are blessed. I have been changed by being faced with my greed, selfishness, and privilege among many who are poor and oppressed.

I haven’t seen drastic changes take place, but I have seen glimpses of the kingdom. Little things happen that remind me that God is at work here, that he hasn’t forgotten the poor and oppressed, and that seeds of his kingdom have been scattered all around. And the kingdom is like a mustard seed- it starts out small, but will one day grow and become a huge tree offering rest and shade. It is like a treasure-a treasure so great you might want to sell everything you have to get it. Because it is beautiful. It is priceless. It just takes awhile to uncover it all.