Talk about sufferin’

There’s an old gospel song that starts off with the line “Talk about sufferin’ here below, but let’s keep following Jesus.”  When we read, listen to, or look at the news from around the world, a lot of it is talking about suffering.  In response to that suffering, there are several things we can do. Some of those revolve around talking about the suffering and some involve doing something about the suffering.  If our talking is just lamenting or complaining, we are not helping the situation much.  If we  each individually try to do something, we are soon overcome by the size of the task.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) works on both the talking and doing fronts.  Part of their mission is to educate Mennonites and other concerned people about the suffering around the world.  The rest of their mission is to do something about the suffering.

The “doing” ranges from short-term urgent relief in the form of food and other life essentials to long term solutions such as developing clean water sources and sustainable agriculture, educating workers and leaders, and helping to find common ground for peace in the midst of violent conflict.

The goal of the Northern Michigan Relief Sale is also two pronged… to raise awareness and raise funds to enable MCC to perform their mission.  It is sometimes a hard connection to make between the green, densely wooded, rolling hills of northern Michigan and an arid, near desert location on the other side of the world.  Yet, some of the funds that you help gather during the NMRS go toward building sand dams, installing foot powered water pumps or setting up  gutters and cisterns to catch seasonally abundant rainwater.

When you come to the NMRS, don’t just look at the quilts and don’t just think about the good foods you can enjoy.  Oh, yes, and don’t look for bargains. Look at the ways that the funds raised each year connect us to the world.   Not one of us can change the world, yet, we can be part of the work of MCC as they try to change it one person and one project at a time.  Soon you’ll be a “Global Christian” and see the world in a new way.