Generosity Test

As I sit in front of a friend's fire at 11pm before turning in for the third night of sleeping in her spare bedroom, I'm reminded of how much my life hasn't turned out like I thought it would have five years ago.  Often birthdays bring about reflection and this year is starting out so surprisingly that I wonder what will come later.
This last week has been a test of generosity and openness as I was asked two days before my birthday to help find housing for a few basketball players without electricity for a bit.  I figured I was out of town and instead of asking some of the people in my network that I might as well just let them stay at my place.  After all, it wasn't like I was using for the next two nights.  Then came that third night when I got home about 9:30 and the real test.  After being at a training for four days and celebrating my birthday with my parents, I was starting to look forward to being home.  I opened the door to see things spread out in the house, not a mess, but clearly, the electricity wasn't back on yet.  I knew they had practice for another hour, so I called up a friend to see if I could stay in her guest bedroom, just in case.
So I waited around, cleaned up a tiny bit (very thankful that the apartment wasn't as much of a mess as it usually is, but still aware that it wasn't as clean as I usually like to have when I entertain guests).  Finally, one of the guys came up... the only one of the guys I had ever had a conversation with and knew his name.  So we arranged for them to stay there another night, then the next day I found a place for the guy to stay while the other one went home.  Due to time mix-up, I ended up even bring him along to the InterVarsity end of the year Christmas party with all of the students.
Turns out he had a great time and he even went to church two days later with his host and has plans to go to keep going to InterVarsity and church.  Later that Saturday night, as I set up the all to regular movie night with my Sunday School class, I invited him along.  The guys and I watched a great movie at his host's house, then I went back to campus to pass out water bottles to drunk college students.
Throughout Sunday, I knew it was time for the guys to move back into my apartment... this time 3 of them as it had finally gotten too cold for the remaining two.  So I packed my things, headed to work then off to my friend's house for another night where I even got to catch up on my end of the year giving.  And here I am, two nights later, having spent three of my five days at this age in my friend's house while 2-4 guys that I barely know stay in my apartment.

So maybe this story would have happened in my life that I pictured five years ago.  But honestly, I think looking into the rest of that story I wouldn't have been so open to it.  Two years ago, I read a quote which I just learned is from Christina Cleveland, who will be speaking on Racial Reconciliation at Urbana15.  "Privileged people of the cross seek out, stand with, and stick their necks out for people who have problems that are nothing like their own."
I don't think I knew what this meant, until I started learning who I was in Christ. See, the other side of this story is about race. The basketball players are black and I live in a predominately white section of town. This could have caused problems (especially as my downstairs neighbor keeps an eye on my apartment when I was out of town), but when I returned today she was helping the full time guy get into the apartment as I ended up with both keys.
When I took him to the Christmas party, I know a few students wondered if he was my boyfriend, even though I had just learned his name earlier that day.  But I had to be ok with having that conversation with them.  He stuck out quite a bit, not that he was the only new person, but he was one of the only guys and let's be honest, he's tall and black... not what our group often sees.  Now as I think about the guys staying there, I can't help but smile.  That's the only response (and I still haven't done the dishes from it yet).
Then there's the almost weekly movie nights where we often get pizza and watch a Netflix movie.  The only requirements are: it can't be R rated (my rule as they're under 18) and there has to be at least one black guy in the movie (their rule as they're not white and want minorities to be represented at least some).  Now I loved movies with my youth group growing up, but I was blessed by an amazing small group of all females my age and a great leader who, even still, models Christ's generosity with time and resources.  My youth group's topics are vastly different as the 14-15 year old guys are athletes with different experiences and aspirations (real and pretend).
And I could go on and on... about how I bought a kid some presents who won't get many, about how much I'm able to give to God's work, about the time it takes to text and pick up most of the youth group.  About the hard conversation we had at the student leaders meeting as we start seeing push-back from students against discussing race and if it really matters.
Five years ago would I have given up my place for five nights to strangers, mentored kids nothing like myself, spent time and money driving people around, tutoring youth, or giving money when needed to this extent?  I mean, I've always loved to give, but does God really expect us to give this much?  Can't I at least sleep in my own bed, enjoy a movie I want to watch, or keep everything over the 10% for the church?
God calls us to be a servant to all people.  Yes, this week has been a challenge as I recognize the privileges I have (including an open door to a guest room, a car, electricity, and knowledge to teach), and make conscious choices to share that with people with problems that are nothing like my own.  But at the same time, I wouldn't change a thing.  The journey has taken me in areas I never dreamed, and I can only imagine what will happen in the rest of this year, starting with Urbana 15 then on to an Urban Program for my area and large groups focused on race and ethnicity.  Please join me on the journey towards generosity, openness, and willingness to seek out, stand with, and stick your neck out for someone with problems nothing like your own.