From Rich Dixon

Last time I talked about a bunch of questions about building bridges to what I see as an increasing population of people living on the margins.

As frequently happens, my conversations with Jesus about this quandary brought me an insight in the form of a quote from Father Gregory Boyle. Speaking at Boston College to a group of students studying to be social workers, Father Boyle said,

“You don’t go to margins to make a difference. Then it’s about you. But you go to margins so that the folks at the margins make you different.

Then it’s about us.

And so the goal is to create a community of kinship such that God might recognize it where there is no us and them, there’s just us.”

Of course, we do all we can to help people who are struggling. But we all recognize the inefficiencies of meeting individual needs one-at-a-time.

Inefficiency isn’t the point. Community (kinship, in Father Boyle’s words) is the point.

Have you ever wondered, like me, why Jesus was so inefficient with his 3-year ministry? Why he spent so much time with small groups and individuals instead of preaching to megachurch-sized crowds. Why he focused on twelve guys who were on the margins of their own society?

Maybe he was providing a model. Maybe he was telling us it’s not about large-scale, efficient programs and events. Maybe he was telling us that instead of congregating with our friends, we ought to be seeking out the uncomfortable people – just like he did. Maybe he was saying that creating community with even one of those folks is essential, partly because it will help them, but mostly because it will change us.

Why spend so much time and effort bringing people together to raise funds for only 22 kids halfway around the world?

I’ve often said we’re about building community. Fundraising is a result, not a goal. I’m certain those kids have changed us in ways we don’t see.

We do what we can with what we have – and trust Jesus for the outcome.