On the Market Places of the World...



"No man is an island..."
John Donne (1572-1631)

Many times introverts get into a comfort zone called self-isolation, a place where no one else exists, but them. And it could be sweet actually (it is not bad to be an introvert sometimes), you know, not having to adhere to anyone's rules or inadequacies. A place where you can make the world what you want it to be. It could be bliss. But in order to spread love we need to get out of our comfort zones sometimes. In this world, isolation could be a very lonely place.

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all...no man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." John Donne.

John Donne was a Christian, and at some point in his life he figured out that we were not made to live in isolation, but that each of us can revive a long chain of liveliness. That's where the popular quote, "No man is an island," came from. I didn't exactly figure out what he meant by the entire quotation, but I did take one thing out of it: there's a purpose for which the market place exists. By the market place, I mean businesses, jobs, community centers, families, homes, and social networks. I mean every place where we get to come in contact with each other, and the places where we pursue our different careers.

And I believe that now, more than ever, we need to strengthen the bonds of liveliness, especially with people who are lost or who don't understand the meaning of God's love. I like how Isaiah 61 puts this into perspective, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives (to tell them they are free), and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." That's God's message to the world today, that He can set you free if you come to Him. He can give you beauty for ashes and joy for mourning.

See, in this 21st century, this message is what I want my market place to be all about. If you have something that God has given you, it pays you no good to hide it from every one else, because someone out there needs you. That's why I want you to RUN with this...yes, go to your own market places and tell them what God has done for you. Be a carrier of joy and love...but not just any love, God's love. He is the author of Love, His name is Love, and nothing else can give full satisfaction other than His love. Try God and see...


Let's revive our marketplaces with God's Love. Also let us pray for our jobs
[To pray today visit the iPray 2010 Project Day 3---a prayer for Careers]

9 comments:

Kafo said...

first ooooooooooooooooooooooo

okay now i am going to go and read it assuming my campus WIFI allows mii to

Kafo said...

this is for mii
i have to admit that i love my isolation, i love being able to choose who i will interact with and how i will spend my time

this hits the nail on the head in a way.
hmmm i'll have to think about this one a lil' more to see how it will be lived out

Blessing said...

Thanks Jaycee!!!....after being hurt and disappointed so many times by ppl...u'll wanna just keep to urself....hmmmmm....dis def got me thinkin...

Anonymous said...

hmm.. in theory i liiiiike this.. in reality, i like my quiet spaces...

Jennifer A. said...

@ Kafo, the funny thing is I like my isolation too. But if we don't come out, how can we effect change? Love your honesty K, we can do this!!! *wink*

@ BBY...hurt and disappointed is what we're assured of in this world. It's annoying. When I think of hurts, I also think of a God who sent His only son to be hurt in our place...I guess that cancels it out, right? What can we do? We've just gotta keep doing the right things. Love ur honesty too.

@ Bagucci...lol @ in theory you like this. So it looks like we have to make our reality look like our theories. Its doable, no? :)

Myne said...

Jesus was out there with the world and I learnt more from that when I took my faith seriously. If you remain introverted, how many people can you touch with your life?

The Activist said...

You are so right on this!

Stop by and read Original Mgbeke interview on my blog: Interview Thursday "...I wouldn't attribute the single fact that women are doing better for themselves as a cause of the higher divorce rates"- Mgbeke

Jennifer A. said...

@ Myne Whitman, I sent you a message to tell you how right you are. Thanks for your additions.

@ Standtall, thanks. I'll check it out :)

Blessing said...

Jaycee, u are so right. The ups and the downs....the good and the bad, they're all apart of life, just like my Pastor said last night "Everyone who lives Godly will have to suffer"...