How Do You Bear It???

I frequently hear this question from both students and fellow faculty members alike when I inform them that Sandy and I are living in a studio apartment within the campus Mission House. Their questions reflect the common knowledge that the Mission House studio apartments were originally designed for short-term occupancy by a single individual -- not extended living for a couple. How do you bear living in such close-quarters?

I also hear the same question -- So, how do you bear it? -- from friends and family, when they ask about our adjusting to life in a culture that is in so many ways "upside-down" from what a modern American is use to in this day and age. Not that we are experiencing "primitive living" in any way, shape or form -- our son Caleb would quickly attest to the many "modern" conveniences (like electric power and gas heat) that we daily are dependent upon -- but many of the "customary" life practices here leave us feeling very "foreign."

One experience this past week brought this question to mind in a particular manner. I was invited as a member of the undergraduate law faculty to attend the law student association's "MT" -- "membership training" session. I was informed that a bus would be provided to transport everyone from campus to a dining facility off-campus where we would enjoy a meal followed by the MT session. The bus was to depart campus at 6:30pm on Friday and, I was told, would not return until 2am.

What did you just say? 2am? I heard correctly, for such are the "bonding" experiences of students here -- which, if I think about it for a few minutes, is not unlike the late night excursions of university students in the States or in whatever country, for that matter -- but, did they really want their professors to hang-out with them? Well, . . . yeah. I was even treated to a seven course meal, prepared by the leaders of the student association, no less.

And then, we were all directed to a fellowship hall on a lower level of the building where a worship service was held. Prof. Chi, the chairman of the School of Law, presented a challenging message from the story of Micaiah, the prophet who spoke truth to power even though all the other 400 prophets affirmed the evil King Ahab’s plan. He reminded us that “bearing witness to the truth” in our efforts to “do justice” may often prove costly in our careers and even to our lives.

I was reminded by Prof. Chi’s words of what Jesus had said to his disciples: “For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41, emphasis added). Now the question came to me in a much different way – How do you bear it? That is, how do I bear the name of Christ? Do I bear it well, or do I bear it poorly?

That I “bear it” at all is only by the gift of God’s abundant grace. But, I would do well to examine myself regularly with this question. If I claim to be a Christ-follower, how am I doing bearing his name? Interestingly, the first followers of The Way (Acts 9:2) did not take on the name “Christian” (literally “little Christ’s”). Rather, they were called Christians in the town of Antioch. (Acts 11:26) Others recognized that they were following the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and so called them by his name. Is that how I have come to bear his name?

How am I bearing it, today?

ps – I didn’t end-up staying at the MT until 2am. One of my good and faithful colleagues, Prof. Cheoljoon Chang, graciously offered me a ride back to campus around 11pm. I have already found that when one has to bear with sleeplessness, it is an even greater challenge to bear the name. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.