Looking Through the Lens
Posted by Kevin on May 22, 2013
Joe, Suzie and Fran went out to eat at their favorite restaurant. Each ordered identical meals from the menu, ate their food and then sat back to visit. The conversation gravitated towards food. Joe asked if everyone had enough food. Suzie was concerned about the quality. Fran was disappointed in the presentation.
Each person had the same entrée but had diverse opinions on the meal. What happened? Different socioeconomic classes were represented here. Joe, Suzie and Fran had their own set of hidden rules that caused them to look through different lenses.
Ruby Payne authored an excellent book entitled What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty. Within her book, Payne details the hidden rules of three socioeconomic classes: poverty, middle class and wealth. Payne describes why we might see things differently than our neighbor.
For example, when I think of the word "possessions," I visualize my house, car, clothing or furniture. I am looking through the middle class lens. Many of our Sioux Falls Ministry Center guests are in poverty. They might view their possessions as important people in their lives. Legacies, pedigrees and one-of-a-kind objects could be important possessions for the wealthy.
Maybe there have been times where you have scratched your head and wondered, "Did that person really do that?" It looked crazy to you. Could it be possible that you looked at it through the lens of hidden rules of your class?
One situation that I have seen played out over and over again regards the handling of money. I have watched people give their family members money for an emergency situation when that person could have paid off outstanding loans. Why didn't they keep the money to pay off debt? For them money is to be "used," not necessarily "managed." It might be difficult for them to see beyond today. Again, we oftentimes look at things like money, clothing, food, time or education through the hidden rules of the particular class that we represent.
Joe, Suzie and Fran represented the three major socio economic groups in our society: poverty, middle class and wealth. Each looked at their meals through a different lens. These opinions came from the hidden rules within their group. Payne believes that hidden rules of classes are different but one isn't better than another.
What class do you relate most to? Has that affected the way you look at others' decisions? It's something to ponder the next time you scratch your head as you watch your neighbor (in your mind) make some crazy decisions.
Carrie Sustad, Director of Operations
Clay Balls
Posted by Kevin on May 09, 2013
Watching out our lobby windows this morning, I saw many people pass by our doors. Each person had their own unique style of clothes, hair and even language. It made me think that many times it's hard to get past someone's exterior appearance. We aren't attracted to that particular style or type of language and shy away from any form of conversation with them. The following poem reminded me of how God tells us to look past the outer layer of clay and get to know who a person really is when we encounter them on life's journey.
Carrie Sustad, Director of Operations
Clay Balls
A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.
He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!
Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.
Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside.. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.
We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.
Author Unknown
New Roots Ministers to Immigrant, Refugee Population
Posted by Kevin on May 09, 2013
As Sioux Falls becomes more diverse, there is a greater need for organizations to help those individuals to adjust to the culture of Sioux Falls. New Roots is a ministry that ministers to the immigrant and refugee population of Sioux Falls by providing physical, emotional and spiritual support.
According to Carl Bruxvoort, ministry director of New Roots, Sioux Falls has received people from at least 95 countries. Among those individuals, they speak approximately 127 languages and dialects.
One local business that has become a source of employment for immigrant and refugees is John Morrell. Bruxvoort, who also serves as part-time chaplain at John Morrell, said that approximately 75 percent of the work force at John Morrell is non-U.S. born.
“I visit with people in their break rooms, make hospital visits to employees and family members, provide referrals to the Furniture Mission, and distribute Scripture and devotional materials in a variety of languages,” Bruxvoort said. Arabic/English Bibles have been very popular among Christians from South Sudan.”
Through New Roots, Bruxvoort serves as a liaison between the immigrant and refugee population and local organizations, such as the Sioux Falls Police Department, Senator John Thune's office, and Sioux Falls Christian Schools.
New Roots also works closely with All Nations City Church, another ministry at the Sioux Falls Ministry Center, by providing a quarterly worship service in surrounding churches to help foster a welcoming climate to those from other nations as well as strengthening relationships between established churches and new immigrant/refugee congregations.
