Steve Lewis put out a “Challenge to Seattle Hipsters” to do something meaningful, which is a very good challenge to make to hipsters who are often way too deep into lattes and relationship building with other hipsters. Steve challenged them (and me) to buy a rice cooker for a Burmese refugee. I bit and I bought.
I am not a Seattle hipster. I’m not a New Orleans hipster either. I might be considered a hipster at a Baptist seminary faculty meeting, which is rather disturbing, is it not? I’d rather be called the “subversive element.”
To the point, I quote my friend Steve:
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. . . a few months ago, everyone in the hip, flavor of the month activist issue club both here in Seattle, and around North America got all up in arms over the violence in Burma/Myanmar. It did get bad there, no question. The violence by the government against Buddhist monks got the most airplay in Western media. It’s good that we see this stuff. But it’s a far cry better when you can actively do something positive to help.
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. . . I’ve got a prime opportunity for you to get personally involved – a chance to put up or shut up as it were. Here’s the deal. There are many refugees from Burma/Myanmar arriving in the Seattle area right now. In many cases, they’re arriving with literally nothing but the clothes they’re wearing.
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A local pastor in the collective of churches I work with is reaching out to these people and trying to help. He needs help. They need everything from a bus or vans to microwave ovens and rice cookers. So what say you? . . . If you’re interested in helping [click]
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www.seattlegiving.comindex.phpmain_page=index&cPath=19_33_499
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. . . this call for help goes beyond just those who were hipster protest-y types. These folks could use all the help they can get right now.
After I read his post, I asked Steve if they were taking the Gospel along with the rice cookers. They are. So, I bought a rice cooker. I’ll never see it, never know its color, feel its buttons, plug it in, or taste its Jasmine grains. I do not care in the least. I send it along joyfully and with a prayer: Father, send your Holy Spirit with this rice cooker. Use it to make someone happy. Let every grain of rice it cooks be a seed for the Gospel. Start a movement among the Burmese people. In Jesus’ name, amen.
