Over the years she’s spent thousands of words and dollars on behalf of Compassion‘s children around the world but now… “Where’s the urgency, Shaun?”
If she stops giving her sponsored child won’t die, you see? He’ll remain in Compassion’s programs, continuing to receive healthcare, nutrition, education, vocational training. A packet will be created with his little face on it and that packet will be placed on a child sponsorship table at a church, conference or concert somewhere. Someone will see it and sign up to sponsor him. Their monthly generosity will underwrite his care. Their letters will span the miles and get him through self-doubt and algebra tests.
“This is best for the child – that he not be removed from life-saving programs when his sponsor stops giving,” I explained. “The alternative is that he be dropped from the programs, not get fed, educated…”
“But then where’s the urgency?” she asked. Then she told me about a wonderful ministry in Africa she’s gotten involved with. Her eyes widened, her voice rose. She was passionate. “They need me,” she said.
“I see the urgency in what Compassion does. I feel it,” I told her. “And it’s OK that you don’t. You need to go and give where you feel the urgency. Maybe that’s part of what it means to be ‘called’ by God?”
You have to follow your own urgency. It’s what transforms a “should do” into a “must do.” And you do have an urgency. At least one.
I know Coke is bad for me. Pouring into my body a can of corn syrup, empty calories and a dozen chemicals I can’t pronounce isn’t good for me. I should make a better choice. But I don’t. Where’s the urgency?
But if the doctor runs tests and finds cancer? I’ll trade Coke for prune juice, tree bark, sea weed smoothies – anything to get well! Urgency leads to action.
And urgency births passion too.
Everett Swanson saw thousands of orphans huddled in doorways during the Korean war and knew that if something wasn’t done a generation of children in that country would grow up fatherless and have a harder time believing that God really is good. A missionary friend asked Everett, “Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?” And he answered in a big way.
The urgency of the orphan crisis in Korea birthed in Everett a passion for children living in poverty. He moved from the U.S. to Korea, took in a few orphans, then a few more. The number grew and grew until Everett couldn’t afford to care for more. So he invented child sponsorship, asking people to give every month to cover the expenses of one child already in his care. Compassion International was born.
Our actions and passions often originate from urgency. Lifestyle changers and world changers alike.
Urgency is the difference. Between a season of giving and a habit of generosity. Between a short-lived resolution and a new life. Between sympathy and real sacrifice. Between duty and joy.
Where’s your urgency? Follow it.
Kris Camealy says:
Thank you for this, Shaun. I have been thinking about this very concept and asking for God’s passion and insight. I feel like life altering urgency cannot be manufactured. Advertisers manufacture a sense of urgency to sell their products, but eventually, it wears off, and we stop feeling the NEED to purchase what they are selling. But an urgency like having cancer and needing to change lifestyle habits, that is real–I’ve been wrestling with where my own send of urgency falls, and what is behind it…I’m rambling here. All this to say thank you for helping me continue to wrestle.
Melissa Jones says:
This is why, even with knowing how sometimes detrimental “mission trips” can be, I still think it’s good to go someplace different and see first-hand. I look forward to the day (with urgency) when I can bring my kids and husband and let them really _see_ poverty. Because once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee and you’re changed because of it. Once poverty, war, disease, etc. have a face and a name rather than just yet another schpiel from yet another (affluent) person asking for my money, you _have_ to change. You either have to harden your heart and force it out of your mind, or you change your priorities and possibly your way of life.
I feel like John Adams a lot in the musical 1776 though (not so much with my family, mostly with others at my church) – “Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see what I see?” And it’s frustrating when you feel sometimes like you’re the only one with that urgency. We all claim the same Gospel, but it is lived out wildly differently in different people. Am I wrong for being so “passionate?” Are they wrong for being so blase?
Is my sense of urgency because of misplaced guilt? Am I trying to outdo everyone else to “prove” my worth to God?
Good words, Shawn!
Melissa Jones says:
Oh, good Lord….
“Good words _Shaun_.”
Sorry!
Kelli says:
Great encouragement. I’ve found in the last year that I have a deep sense of urgency, but no real direction to point it in…yet. I thought I knew where to direct that urgency, but that path was cut short. The urgency wasn’t removed, though, so…what now?
Learning to be okay with not knowing the next step has been the challenge. Now that a little healing has taken place, I’m finding it a little easier to wait on the Lord to direct. A little. Urgency makes me want to act now and act fast…and perhaps act unwisely? Your last paragraph summed it all up so beautifully. Urgency grows in the in-between. Between what was and what is now, between what was unknown and what is now known. Between what was expected, and expectation removed.
Once again, a great post! 🙂
Yvonne Reynolds says:
In just a couple of weeks, after being an advocate for 2 years, I am going on my first Compassion sponsor tour. I am praying that God will grow my desire to continue to share about Compassion through the new experiences I will encounter. I love the question, “Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?” I will be asking myself the same thing over the course of my trip. Thank you for giving something new to think about!