Friday, November 13, 2009

A Week With Jesus

Something magical happened this summer. I did something that made me step out of my comfort zone, way out; so far out that I came back to a place and found my own beliefs waiting – and Jesus was there to help. A friend of mine suggested that I check out a website called couchsurfing.org. It’s an incredible organization that involves pairing people who need a place to stay while traveling with people who have an extra couch that strangers can crash on. Right. That’s what I said – strangers, staying in your house. Now breathe before you get all crazy and think about it. This is an amazing community of people who believe that the world is a good place with good people in it and we only have to get them together so that the world can only get better. People are trustworthy. People are nice. People are warm and open and caring. There may be a small minority of humanity that are dishonest and criminal but they’re ruining it for the rest of us. The rest of us are tired of not being trusted just because someone decided to hurt someone else and it made it on the news. Tired. So couch surfing has decided to take the world back from it’s nasty, and completely undeserving reputation as an uncaring and cold place filled with criminals and people who want to hurt us. They want to prove that world is a good place, with good people, who care for strangers in their cities. This idea, for me, is the epitome of the Christian Ideal – love one another – which I strive to live every day.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous the first time I couch surfed, because I took my fifteen year old daughter with me. we were both excited and nervous. What do you expect from a stranger who has invited you into their home? Well, if you listen to years and years of news, which deals only in very small percentage of what is actually going on in the world, then you expect to be robbed and molested while sleeping in a strangers house. Isn’t that sad? Isn’t it sad that we have come to expect violence and mischief from our brothers and sisters? Well, the opposite was true for us. We were welcomed warmly, fed an incredible meal, spent hours in entertaining and unique conversation and then given someplace warm and comfortable to sleep. Not once. Not twice. But over and over and over again. House after house after house. Each person welcoming us in their own way, with their own brand of hospitality, their own unique warmness. Each house shared their home, their food and their spare beds. But more than that they shared their warmth, their love for music, food, literature and good conversation. They opened their doors to strangers so that they could learn more about the world they live in – free of judgment or condemnation. Now come on, tell me that’s now how you want to spend your life?

So when I was headed down to Texas to see my brother graduate from the Air Force boot camp I decided to spend an extra week there couch surfing. I sent out some introductions to myself and kindly requested to spend some time on couches and I waited for a reply. In a matter of days I had gotten an email back from a guy with extremely similar interests. Plus he seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him. On the day he picked me up I could tell we would get along very well. We weren’t like bosom buddies or anything but he was just cool, laid back and I knew I was going to love spending some time on this guys couch. It was only once we got back to his house and he took his brown tinted aviator sunglasses off and pulled the elastic out of his hair that was held up in a samurai kind of ponytail that I recognized him. It was Jesus. He said his name was Chuck, but I knew better. Jesus. Everyone knows him that’s why he has to wear the sunglasses. Long hair, beard, easy going, completely accepting of you and everything you are. Who would have known that I would be spending my week with Jesus? I mean, he’s famous. How lucky was I? if he wanted me to call him Chuck for the week I could totally comply. Keep up appearances and all that. Chuck. Cool.

Within minutes I was unpacked and comfortable on Jesus’ couch with Jesus and one of his buddies – I think it may have been one of the Hindu gods, I’m not sure. I can’t really recognize them without all their arms and extra heads. But this guy was just as cool and laid back as Chuck. He’d brought a backpack of stuff to Chuck’s house, something in a canister like your mom keeps flour in – you know, to keep it fresh. It was in a baggy and soon went into a strange pipe. Hindu god dude asked me if I smoked. I said I didn’t. And he just said, “cool” and continued packing the pipe full of weed. He and Jesus sat there with me and smoked a bowl, chilling and talking about where I was from and Hindu-dude’s band. We listened to a bunch of good music and laughed and spend the afternoon chilling. But then Jesus had to get to work. Jesus, it turns out, is busy. He’s got stuff to do.

Jesus spends his days making sure folks have access to free cable. Turns out he’s got How To videos on YouTube. They show you how to make your own antennae out of wire and wood and cheep stuff so you don’t have to pay those money-sucking parasites who run the dang cable companies. All the TV I watched that week at Jesus’ house came through a handmade antennae. Turns out Jesus doesn’t really appreciate the cable companies – I knew this guy was my kind of guy.

The thing is, his entire days were spent fighting for people who didn’t have what he had. Not giving it to them. But helping them get it. He educated. Helped. Uplifted. He saw dishonesty in the media and was doing what he could to keep them accountable for their actions. He wrote letters, made calls, talked with folks. He’s protested the detainment of illegal immigrants who have children. These families are being detained in prisons. Mothers and children in prison. Not enough blankets or food. Or freedom. And Jesus is fighting for them. He was tireless. Wouldn’t stop talking about all the stuff that still has to be fixed in the world. People who need help. People who don’t have the power or opportunities that others do. They need education. Not a handout, but help. Simple help. To understand what their rights are and how to get what they need to make their lives better. That’s what Jesus did every day I was with him. Most days he didn’t even have time to spend with me. He was busy looking out for the least of his brothers and sisters.

I did get to spend an evening with Jesus though. It was awesome. I always thought that the Son of God would be able to laugh at stuff; you know, have a sense of humor. I mean, look at the avocado. Seriously. You have to be a bit twisted to create the platypus, don’t you? Turns out I was right. Jesus can make jokes with the best of them. And I really do mean the best. And I really do mean make jokes. He’s funny just talking to him. I mean just hanging out with him made me feel better about the world, about the conditions we’re in. But it also turns out he’s got his own comedy troupe. Couple nights a week he and some buddies perform at a comedy club. Make people laugh. And he’s funny! Laughed my head off. He reminded people that life’s not nearly as bad as they think. It’s okay to laugh and be silly every now and again. Dude can make any situation lighter. I knew it all along.

But the thing that really impressed me. The thing I really learned about Jesus is this – he’s a gluten free vegan. Right. Disappointing I know. I was really hoping that Jesus was a rib-man. I mean Texas barbeque and all that. I thought for sure he would be a slow-hickory-smoked bbq guy. I really had hoped to sit down and eat some ribs with Jesus you know. Just see what made him tick. The thing is, I got my wish. When he asked me what I wanted to do while I was down there I sheepishly said Texas BBQ. And he said, “Okay. Let’s go.” I quickly said, guiltily I might add, that I didn’t want to step on his beliefs. I mean if he didn’t eat meat I could certainly find something else to eat while I was there. He wouldn’t hear of it. “If it’s meat you want, then I’ll get you the best BBQ in Texas.” And he did. Turns out it’s Jamaican. I know. Jamaican. Who would have thought it? But he was right. Best dang BBQ I’ve ever had. I ate several pounds of ribs and beef brisket with this sweet and spicy sauce while sitting on Jesus’ living room floor while he ate a spinach salad with a strawberry vinaigrette. And with not one once of judgment.

But while I sat at Jesus’ feet, eating amazing amounts of Jamaican BBQ, this is what he taught me – listen to your body. No one should be vegan, or vegetarian, or carnivore, or whatever unless their bodies tell them to. Pay attention to you body after you’ve eaten. Jesus explained that he wasn’t gluten free or vegan because he didn’t believe in killing. He was vegan because his body needed him to be. He explained that if your body responds well to meat, then you should eat it. If it responds well to gluten then eat it. But pay attention. After you’ve eaten, how do you feel? If your stomach is upset, your skin is problematic, if your digestion is wonky or your health poor – perhaps it’s because of what you eat. Pay attention to what your eating. Your body will tell you what it likes and doesn’t like. Jesus likes the taste of pork but his body isn’t as healthy as it could be when he eats it. So he doesn’t. He only consumes food that is healthy for him. Pretty simple really. Eat what is healthy for you.

Since visiting with Jesus I haven’t stopped eating meat. But I have paid closer attention to how I feel after eating. And boy have I been amazed. I’ve discovered so much about myself since this summer. I pay attention to my stomach, my digestion, my skin, my head and my general feeling of health after I’ve eaten and for hours later. When I get a headache I ask myself what was I eating earlier. What has gone into my body. When I unexpectedly feel tired I think about what have I eaten that might have caused my tiredness. It’s changed everything. I’ll tell you something. Since spending the summer with Jesus I eat more fruit. Turns out it’s pretty dang good. I also love spinach. Eat mounds of it now. I can’t believe how good I feel after eating spinach. I just feel… well good! I’m not saying I’m running marathons or that I’ve even lost weight. I haven’t. But I do FEEL better. My body feels better.

Try it for a couple of days. Eat spinach, or vegetables, or fruit for an entire day. Monitor how you feel. Then the next day eat normal stuff, meat and cheese and whatever. Then see how you feel. You might LIKE one better than the other, the taste of it, but pay attention to how you FEEL. And then ask yourself this question – What would Jesus do?

I got to spend several days on Jesus’ couch. Had a lot of good conversations with him when he wasn’t busy trying to save the world. Learned a lot about myself too. Got a lot of good music. Turns out Jesus also has incredible taste in music. Hooked me up with some amazing ambient stuff – Thievery Corporation. Chill. Just freakin’ chill. I’ve spent hours just listening to them and thinking about my time with Jesus.

You see, the thing is, couch surfing is a way to touch base with folks you never would have gotten a chance to meet in the first place. They show you around their town, hook you up with the best places to eat, and most importantly, well, most importantly you get to spend talking with and getting to know someone in the world who is different than you – but the same. They have different upbringings, different taste in music, different beliefs in God, they might even smoke weed every now and again. But they also believe that life is good, people are honest, there is enough to go around and that sharing, well sharing, that is the best action of them all. So you can decide which to focus on. Differences or Similarities. One drives us apart, the other brings us together.

I gotta say, I’ve made my choice. Treating others the way I want to be treated. Treating others as if they were the Savior himself, or Buddha, or Muhammad or Krishna makes me see the world as if it were filled with gods. And treating gods the way they deserve to be treated, well, that’s the way I want to live. That’s the way I choose to see my world. Learning and living and sharing along the way. That’s the only way for me. And I owe a part of it to Jesus – codename Chuck. Thanks man. My brother in another city. Come skiing some time – I won’t have any weed, but I’ll definitely have some spinach.

1 comment:

  1. i've only heard good things about couch surfing.
    i didn't try it when i was scummin around europe, but i think next time i go i will.
    sweet blog mr. M
    p.s. this is Hyrum if you remember me

    ReplyDelete