tet-anba

Have you washed anyone's feet lately?

Probably not.  It's weird, right, and to be totally honest, until yesterday I'd never washed anybody's feet (aside from tackling and scrubbing down Sofie's nasty-bottomed toes every night) in my entire life.

And it's not something we've ever done at Emmaus.

But at our big 'ole back-at-it staff meeting on Tuesday, a rather touchy subject came up.

Our very first year here, Matt and I noticed that all the students only referred to first year students as zambels, and never by name. That there were lots of little jokes at their expense, and then after a few weeks, the upper classes would stage a little service called "baptism", dump a bit of water on the first year students heads, and finally call them by name, stop all the teasing, finally accept them in as fellow students.

We asked about it then, everybody said it was an EBS tradition, and it'd been going on forever.  And it's all in good fun, and the students loved it.

But each year, there was a bit more teasing, the weeks drug into months, the water turned into a lot of water...and flour...and on.

And finally in staff meeting this year, Matt said, "This zambel thing no longer feels consistent with what we're all about, doesn't support what we're doing, doesn't bend the knee to serve our brothers, doesn't align with all the humility and servant leadership we as a staff have sought for and prayed for and aimed to model in our hearts and lives.  I know it's not my culture, but I'd like to call it done, with your blessing.  Talk to me."

There were lots of different points brought in, and it was with such conviction the staff finally and heartily agreed, adding in concerns and complaints and ideas we've never heard.  I wish you were there.  It was the best stuff you would ever want to hear from the hearts of your fellow staff.

"But if we take it away, decidedly," was the only concern, "What will we put in it's place, to right what is wrong, to turn it upside down?"

First thing Thursday morning as we welcomed everyone into the chapel, each class sitting in their benches and the staff at the back, Matt informed everyone there would be no more zambels.  He talked about the family we are, not because we have earned it, but because we are in Christ.  He talked about how there would be no more hazing, no matter how innocent or playful, and how instead we would all be working, together, to find ways to serve our incoming class, to help them, to love them well, JUST as we all are always working together to find ways to serve our community, to help those no one is helping, to love those no one's loving.

Then, each student stood one at a time to introduce themselves, as we always do, starting with the first year class.   But before second year began, Matt and Lucner had all the first year students line up across the front of the chapel, and instead of being nameless, all of us 2nd, 3rd, 4th year and staff got in line to meet and greet and welcome each one.  That's where these lovely pictures came from:

Which was an awesome NEW tradition.  

But to close on Friday, we decided to host a totally different kind of "baptism" before the year ever started.  Matt talked about Jesus' kingdom, in which we bring God glory by serving instead of being served, where we lift others up instead of standing on them, where we follow Christ's example to serve and to even quite literally DIE for the sake of another.

And then all the staff came up and had the chance to wash the feet of the incoming class, welcoming them in with water.

You could've heard a pin drop. 

And I know the idea of washing someone's feet can be all different things, in different forms, in all different cultures, but there is nothing so uncomfortable and humbling, as Peter learned, with truly just having your feet washed.  And there is nothing more humbling, and uncomfortable, than wearing your heels and suits and getting on your knees, bending over buckets and removing the battered shoes of a brother or sister you've just met, in 100 degree heat, and rubbing their feet.

Our brand new secretary blessed my socks off, getting right down beside me to wash the feet of the female students.  I prayed for those beautiful-are-the-feet-of-she-who-brings-good-news as I washed rough soles, and ALL our eyes were full of tears. It was not the welcome they were expecting.

Which in itself had something very Jesus to it.

I prayed for the men as our men washed their feet, and I prayed for our lot of students as they alternatively stared at their hands and stared at the foot-washing, thinking, thinking.

I prayed for a million ways to look less like us and more like Jesus, prayed for the courage of our staff and students to model Him.  I prayed for our staff's tender hearts and for our genuine love to continue to grow for the people God is after, for the people God loves.

 

I prayed for the new year and all that is coming, prayed that it might follow the patterns of Jesus, that we might all be bold in ways we've been hesitant, courageous in places we've been afraid, servants in ways we've been about self.

Prayed for all these feet, asking to be used by Him, saying aloud, "Send me."

In the silence we then all shared communion, the body of Christ for the body of Christ, and almost everyone headed home to pack their bags for a new school year starting Monday.

I praise the Lord, and I ask for you for your prayers.  This is the year for tet-anba, the year for upside down.  

Can I make things foot-washing uncomfortable for a minute?

Is it possible that we, the body of Christ, could actually approach that person who's political views or social views or religious views or opinions or stands or choices or lives have already "forced" us to label them idiots, pathetic, horrendous, disgusting, whatever a thousand worse names...and wash their feet, whatever that looks like? 

Of course that doesn't seem possible.  Of course that seems utterly ridiculous.  TOTALLY backward.  

Kindof like God of the Universe, sending His only Son into this cold dark world, only to be spit on and betrayed and lied to and abused and tortured and ultimately and actually murdered.  Voluntarily.  For the sake of those VERY guilty WRONG people, like me, while we were still sinners.

THIS FAITH, friends, IS TO BE THE TOTALLY BACKWARD FAITH.  Following our TOTALLY upside-down Leader, disappointing everyone who thought He was coming to take a crown by taking thorns, infuriating everyone who thought He was coming to take a Kingdom by taking a cross, crushing everyone who thought He was coming to be high and lifted up by fitting in naked and spit on and between two criminals.

Dang it, if we CAN'T stop talking about how completely pathetic all of our fellow men with crazy-different opinions or stupid thoughts or horrendous sins or blasphemous lives are LONG ENOUGH to DIE for them, long enough to pull off their stinking shoes and socks and wash their feet with nothing but true-Jesus-love for them...then we're not. actually. following. the. true. Jesus.

If we are kind to our fellow-opinioned neighbor, and watch her kids and give grace for her dog and make dinner when she's sick (don't even the pagans do that?), and yet disgusted by our enemy, unwilling to even acknowledge him to be made in the image of God, and therefore precious in His sight??  Man, we have MISSED it. 

If we only love those who love us.  If we only serve those who serve our same purpose.  If we only speak love with those who are not our enemy, we have missed it, and we have become the reason the world continues on without. hope. without. Jesus. without. Light.  

Because the TRUE Jesus, the washed-the-dirty-feet-of-his-betrayer One, the died-horrifically-for-His-murderers One, the TRUE Jesus, the crazy One of the Bible, is the only one who transforms the impossible, who changes the heart, who saves the world, and He's...I...

...I think we could be doing far better, Christians, to follow His example more faithfully.  I think there is a surprising freedom in the example of the cross through loving our enemies that we are not experiencing. I think we could set down our opinions and pick up His genuine love for WHOMEVER it is we see to be THE. WORST.  and serve them.  Truly.  A lot better.

Let us beg of God to enable us to prove ourselves HIS children.  NOT to prove ourselves to be any-thing-else.

HIS CHILDREN.

Tet-anba. 

If you pray about this post and get in your Bible and don't sense this to be the true Gospel, please throw it out and forgive me and forget it.  I'm youngish and blond and it's late and my Bible teacher husband has been asleep for hours and has not approved these messages.

But if you're as convicted about it as I am, please do. 

Do something.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your [am]shirt, let him have your [an]coat also. 41 Whoever [ao]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [ap]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48 Therefore [aq]you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5