Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

VOID

"the state of non-existence", "empty", "lacking entirely"


Ned's other lesson on Sunday was also taken from the book of Mark, chapter 1:40-45, the story of the man healed of leprosy. As I listened to Ned describe the plight of the leper, it hit me how "void" this man really was. In that time period, in that place, in that culture, no one tried to cure the leper, there was no foundation, no support group, no "race for a cure", no--- these lepers were cast out of the city. They were no longer allowed to live with their families. They could no longer trade at the local marketplace. They could not work, they could not play and most importantly, they could not worship. Their daily life consisted of begging outside the city gate, crying, "unclean, unclean" as a warning to anyone who dared approach, every day scrounging for food as they wondered which part of their body would rot and fall away next. It is a life we cannot imagine, and a life most of us could not endure. A life without friends, a life without relief, a life without hope--a life that was empty, completely lacking anything and everything. And while the pain was very real and never ending, and while the heat and the thirst, the hunger and the daily humiliation offered assurance that life was still present, to the rest of the world, it was if the leper did not exist. His life was one that was truly void!


As I thought about this man's life, I remember feeling very grateful that thanks to medical progress, leprosy is not a problem our country faces. I am glad that leprosy has not caused "void" people in my life. But then I remember that one can be "void" without having a contagious disease. I recently watched a video on my friend Chris's blog (http://chrisclouse.wordpress.com/). Chris has a great blog and I am often touched by his posts. His July 5th post entitled "Does anybody hear her?" was especially moving. I could not figure out how to link the video so I hope Chris doesn't mind if you go to his place first. Please check this out. The video shows a young woman--a woman who in spirit is a leper! She is void of everything. She has no one. In desperation, she looks for healing, but when she arrives at a place of worship, a place that should be filled with other seekers, it is as if she is shouting, "unclean, unclean". The other worship goers practically run away, as if afraid to be contaminated. They take one look at her, outside the door of their place of worship, and they quickly rush in, closing the door behind them, leaving her outside, an unclean soul segregated from the "clean". You can see the sense of hopelessness and pain in this young woman's face. You can see the void in her life and it makes your heart hurt. You see the way "christians" treat her, the way they ignore her and you feel shame. This woman is as "void" as the leper of Mark 1.
I wonder how many "void" people we come across everyday? I wonder if they can see in our eyes that we believe they are "unclean"? Is our discomfort and distaste evident in our words? Do they notice when we pretend we do not see them? Are they fooled? Does their heart hurt when we quicken our pace and hold our child's hand more tightly, mumbling to our child through smiling white teeth, telling our child to walk faster and not look? Does our behavior reinforce their emptiness, their lack of everything, that they are indeed "void"? Does it break our Savior's heart?
This world is filled with "lepers"----they are behind us in the line at Wal-Mart, they are in the cubicle right next to us, in the house down the street, on the corner downtown. They are void--they carry inside them a God-shaped hole, a hole that nothing else will fill. They are hungry for salvation! They could be filled----God can use us to bring them to Him. It seems not only are we not bringing them in, but often by our attitudes, we are keeping them out! That should cause us shame---! Unlike leprosy, there is a cure for this spiritual void. They no longer have to stay outside the "city". They no longer have to be unclean. Please go watch the video and open your eyes, see the lepers, see the void ones, open your minds, open your hearts, bring them in, in to a healing and filling that only happens at the feet of the Savior.

Peace
Neva

24 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great!!!!

Pat

9:02 AM  
Blogger Liz Moore said...

That is what I fear is too much of a heart breaking reality among churches. I pray I will never see someone hurting and walk away. Thanks for the eye opener.

10:25 AM  
Blogger Kathy said...

Neva, Neva, Neva!

Talk about a voice crying in the wilderness. When WILL our churches remember they are not safe havens where we run to get away from the world, rather they should and must be hospitals for the spiritually sick, universities for the untaught, a home and family for the spiritually and literally homeless.

We in the US are so addicted to safety that even Believers fall into the trap of "safety at all costs." But the is NOT what Jesus taught nor how He lived.

My heart cries not only for the "voids" but also for the Christian "voids" that close their eyes to the very ones Jesus came to save.

Bless you, dear sister for again tugging at our hearts and consciences. You truly are one of those of "...beautiful are the feet..."

Kathy

11:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva
This is a very good post--the comment about not only are we not bringing in the lost but we are shutting them out is quite an indictment. It is sadly true!

Carlos

12:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is where I was---I remembering feeling so empty and begging for someone to reach out to me. I felt out of place and unwelcome at church. A dear Christian friend welcomed me and my life has never been the same. It has been twenty three years now since you showed me that kindness and not a day goes by that I am not grateful.
I love you, Neva, for being the one who opened your mind and your heart to see beyond my pain and the horror of my sinfulness.

love
Carol

12:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love the post, loved the video, hate that we are so afraid and uncaring of the "void" souls around us. IMO churches should always have an "open door" policy.

Jeneane

2:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
This is exactly what is wrong with church today---it is a place rather than a people. We do not reach out to others. We are afraid of the world and sinful people. I am sure this is not waht God had in mind.

Great post, sister
Rachel

2:34 PM  
Blogger Bob Bliss said...

Sounds like Ned captured well the alienation that Adam's sin created in this world. Sin has corrupted this paradise and turned it into a void. If we are to see those still in the void then we must remember the void from which we came. I would not want to return for anything. I hope to see those "lepers" in my neighborhood.

3:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! What a beautiful post!

Georgia

4:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva, as always a great post! I can t ell how evangelistic you are by the flavor of your writings.
Go get'em sister,

Dan

5:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Back from vacation and catching up on all my bloggybuddies, have enjoyed the last two weeks posts, you didn't post much, are you okay?
Do you still have the kids? How is Nathan? How is Ned?

love ya
Kel

7:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your post is a great reminder to open our eyes and hearts to those around us.

Shari

9:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Came by way of Christian Women Online. Your website is amazing! It is obvious you bless many, women and men alike. I will be anxious to read your future posts.

Glynnis Jovink

10:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe we should have some sort of "race for the cure" for sin--it ails more than any other illness on the planet. :)
Good post, have a beautiful day!

Mary

7:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful analogy. We overlook too many people, lost souls who could use a shoulder to lean on and a family of their own.

Gina

11:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I dont know ifyou remember me or not. I am Kara's friend. I have been reading your blog everyday. Today is my first time to comment. It felt like your post and the video could have been about me. I felt that wretched and rejected. Praise God for people like Judd and Kara. They helped me find God who filled the void in my life. Praise God!

In Christian love
Gina

11:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always enjoy your posts, I especially like ones that encourage me to get out ofmy shell and bring others to the Lord.

Thanks Neva, you are an inspiration.

Jean

3:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry I commented twice, now three times, :)
I didn't feel like I said enough the first time and now I feel like I need to explain why I posted twice.

Gina

3:29 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Hi Friend,
I have finally found a moment of quiet to catch up on your posts. I really enjoyed them - lots of good thoughts.

I love you and hang in there. Tell Ned that I passed the Bondo but I couldn't throw it that far so he'll have to come get it.
Kathy

4:27 PM  
Blogger TREY MORGAN said...

Just catching up around here after being gone for a while. Still full of GOOD stuff.

Love ya girl

PS - tell Mr. Neva hello for me

9:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva, I appreciate the plug. Forgive me for not commenting earlier. I am still learing all this blogging stuff and didn't realize that you had placed a link to my page.

You are too kind in your comments about me, but keep it up. Thanks.

GREAT POST

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