So the first two weeks of my yearlong internship have comprised of moving in, settling in (and realizing that my apartment of two years housed much more stuff than I ever imagined), getting to know each other and many members of the community, finding our way around the neighborhood (via bike, car, foot and, my favorite, the bus), learning how to be mentors, disciplinarians and schoolteachers (I know I am not the only one who never gave a thought to how much time teachers spend preparing for school!) It has been a whirlwind, but incredibly exciting and productive. As I begin this first official week of the Academy and CHAT after-school tutoring, I am ready to get my hands dirty and DO all that we have discussed, planned out and prayed about.
I have been continually amazed and humbled upon reflection of how God has led me to this specific place at this specific time. I have already learned so much from the example set by those around me regarding Christ’s vision for our modern-day communities. The model of community I am experiencing, based on what Jesus tells us (namely loving one’s neighbors after God), is new to me in such a tangible form, and radical for the rest of the world; and yet it feels so completely natural. I feel as though I am just beginning to catch a glimpse of God’s intention for the way he wants his people to live together, and I can no longer imagine living any other way.
It was very fitting that Percy began our first staff meeting by opening to John 13, where Jesus washes his disciples feet before the Passover meal. The message and depth of Jesus’ actions at this particular moment in time influenced me in a way that it never has before. Among many things, we imagined the realities of how dirty the disciples’ feet actually would have been, and the severity with which Jesus responds to Peter’s valid response of defiance. We discussed how our feet are our primary contact with the world and, consequently, accumulate a lot of its’ dirt; but thanks to Christ’s death on the cross; “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.”
Jesus lets us know that we need to wash each other’s feet: “Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you and example that you should do as I have done for you.” This passage brings up a number of important truths about Jesus’ vision of leadership, chiefly, a model of leaders as servants. After everyone in the room actually had their feet washed by two members of the staff, we thought about why it was somewhat uncomfortable to have someone else wash our feet; the vulnerability of the act, the fact that for most people, like me, it is hard to be served - I can do it myself! And my feet aren’t that dirty anyways!
This year, I hope to see how God wants me to best serve as well as be served; to use my unique gifts and experiences to benefit others, and conversely, to be humble and open enough to benefit just as much or even more from the gifts and experiences of others.
To those with whom I will be spending the year: please let me know when the dirt on my feet is in need of a washing.
