Matt Schnarr's Blog
There Goes the Neighborhood! / 09.15.09, 03:15 PM
I feel like I have 1000 things to write about but I just can’t write about it all right now, So I will just pick one. More to come.
As we were walking home from our day, we passed an elderly African American man on the street. Upon one glance at us 3 young white kids he jokingly remarked “Uh oh, there goes the neighborhood!”. Although I knew he said it as a joke, it made me really think… What do people think when they see us in the neighborhood?
It always bothers me when I think about the idea of me being here to “help” the people in my neighborhood. By saying I am here to help them I am first assuming they need me and thus putting myself above them. That is not what I want at all. This fear is almost paralyzing. I know that if I just love them like Jesus did, it won’t matter what I call what I am doing though. I just am here to be part of community with them; to walk along side my neighbors, learning from them along the way. I want to empower people to help themselves. I don’t want to do things for them. I really hope and pray that I can make that desire clear to my neighbors because sometimes I am scared I will just make things worse. I know that I just need to get over it and remember that God is bigger than that and can use even my mess ups for his glory. I just know I need to DO something. Not moving is NOT an option.
I mean i realize that I do have to be sensitive to the fact that we are still outsiders in our neighborhood (despite the overwhelming welcome we have already received) and we must try our best to understand this new culture we live in before we try to “fix” it out way. Because our way might not be the right way. Instead of thinking that we are bringing God into the neighborhood, we should be looking for where God is already at work in our communities. God is here already. I just have to be open to seeing Him there.
This quote really sums up my desire for my year:
“Go to the people
Live among them
Learn from them
Love them
Start with what they knew
Build on what they have
But of the best leader,
when their task is done
the people will remark;
“We have done it ourselves!”
I really want this to be the echo of my life this year…teach me how God!
-Matt
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wonderful, my friend! makes my cup overflow…
By Megan B. / Sep 17, 12:50 AM / #
Matt that was an awesome discovery! It’s takes many people years and years to discover that God IS at work. We don’t “help” or “fix” anything. We GET to learn, teach, and be taught along side others (believing or not). Thanks for sharing! Praying your strength in the Lord!
By Nicolle Fletcher / Sep 19, 11:19 PM / #