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Writer's picturePhil Underwood

Being Human…again

I am in a series of blogs I am calling The Marks of a Human, Being.  In this sharing I hope to share with you some of my convictions about what it means for me to live fully Human. What does it mean to you?

I enjoy spending time in nature.  Whether it be an alligator-filled swamp in Florida, the deep woods of North Georgia,

on the ocean with no land in sight or the wilds of Africa chasing game and being in awe of predators. Being among so many of God’s non-human creation and creatures at once is rather humbling.  When we are in the wonder of creation, away from concrete, asphalt, technology and human endeavor, the words of Creation can echo back into our souls,

God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.  God commanded the Man, “You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.” “

In being human that message still is in order, and is expanded to include our fellow humans in the race.

Let’s break it down.  We, as humans, are here to serve life.  We nurture life, champion life, celebrate life and we honor life.  We are to do everything we can to sustain life and support it.  All creation is the Creator’s concern.

If, and this happens way too often, we ever seek to decide we know better than the Creator and can discern what is better or worse apart from His designation, we are dead.

In effect, we cease to be a part of the process of life.  We remove ourselves from our place of serving, reposition ourselves in a place of authority, and topple the meaning of life – to serve the Creator by serving Creation.

Some people shy away from the responsibility of our humanness by saying ‘it’s just too hard. I have enough to do taking care of me.”  Others may take the tact, “I am better than you, so you serve me.” Still more might believe that creation – all of it – is here to cater to their desires.

Ultimately, though, the truth is, being human is being a servant.  The expression of God in human form once said,

“That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”

And, to go even further into our own life, he offers to help us shoulder the load.

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

So be a human… serve. If you do, you will never have to do it alone.

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