Loving Our Neighbor: Unreasonable but Possible

Loving our neighbor as ourselves is not simply something we as Christians should endeavor to do. Rather, loving our neighbor is a natural result of abiding in Christ. 

Photo by Vimal S on Unsplash

There’s an interesting line from Leo Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina in which Levin is thinking deeply about how it is that he learned to love his neighbor. His first impulse is to attribute this value to reason. But as he ponders this possibility, he realizes loving ones neighbor cannot ultimately be discovered by reason, “because it's unreasonable”. Rather, he comes to the conclusion that what he knows about loving his neighbor was revealed to him. Tolstoy here offers us a glimpse into the biblical understanding of loving our neighbor. 

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel was commanded love its neighbor. In Leviticus 19:18 we see a contrast; rather than taking vengeance or bearing a grudge against their neighbor, Israel was commanded to “love your neighbor as yourself”. This command was not highlighted verbatim as much as the command to “Love the Lord your God” was and so there might be some surprise when they are both held up to be the “greatest command” in the New Testament. Yet the fact remains that the New Testament basis for loving ones’ neighbor finds its precedent in the Old Testament. It was originally a command from God. 

Throughout the Old Testament though, we see that among other things, Israel wasn’t very faithful to this command. So it is very good news indeed when Jesus tells his disciples that he has come to fulfill the law. That doesn’t mean that the Law is abolished or done away with. It means that someone has come who can be obedient to the Law while giving it new life to those who follow him. As we see the religious leaders of Jesus’ time debating which laws are the weightiest, or most important, Jesus, in all four Gospels, indicates that loving ones’ neighbor is still of utmost importance. 

And he shows them how to do it. Jesus cares for his disciples by teaching them, provides food for those who are hungry, converses respectfully with a Samaritan woman, heals the blind, lame and demon-possessed. And of course he lays down his life in the ultimate show of love on the cross. 

It’s in preparation for this self-sacrificial act that Jesus teaches his disciples what he calls a new command - that is to “love one another…” (John 13:34). It is not new in that they had never heard it before or that it was just another one to add to the list. This command is new because Jesus has embodied love. For those who weren’t sure what love looks like, God has “tabernacled” with his people, brought love to earth and demonstrated it to the world through Jesus Christ. Loving one another is a new command because it has been given life through the Light of the world. His disciples have seen it first hand. Or as Levin discovered, love has been revealed. 

But the disciples are not simply witnesses of this new revelation. They have been commissioned to live as Jesus lives and therefore love as Jesus loves. The way for Jesus’ disciples to love one another is primarily to abide in Jesus. (John 15:9) In fact, Jesus’ followers cannot produce fruit if they don’t abide in him: “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)

Photo by Chad Stembridge on Unsplash

In other words, loving our neighbor is not as much a matter of direct effort as it is abiding in Jesus. Love of neighbor is a fruit of our relationship with our Lord. We cannot produce it anymore than a branch itself can produce an apple; it needs the rest of the tree to provide nourishment. 

Using a more modern illustration, our smart devices have been created to help improve communication and provide information. But without the internet they are very limited in how they can help us. Yes, there are various functions they can perform on their own but when connected to the internet, the notifications light up, the apps refresh and the device is able to be used to its full potential. So too are Christians able to experience their full potential only when they are powered by the life giving Spirit that abides in the believer who remains in Christ. 

Photo by Vimal S on Unsplash

Paul confirms this in Galatians when he lists the fruit of the Spirit. The very first virtue he lists is love. And Paul contrasts fruit of the Spirit with “works of the flesh”. These works of the flesh include sexual immorality, strife and envy, among other things. What Paul is saying is that the works of the flesh don’t take any supernatural prompting to perform. They come naturally to our sinful nature. But the fruit of the Spirit is divine - its produced within us by the Spirit when we abide in Christ.  

What does this abiding look like? Just like any good relationship, abiding in Christ means nurturing the relationship. We abide in Christ when we listen to him through reading the Word and prayer. We abide in Christ when we praise him and fellowship with other believers. See, these various disciplines are not ends in-and-of-themselves. When we read the Bible our goal is not simply to check a box, or feel good that we read enough chapters that day. Rather, the goal of prayer, reading, memorizing and fellowshipping with other believers is to nurture our relationship with Christ. 

After a period of time of healthy nourishment, fruit begins to sprout from our lives. It comes out naturally. Of course, it takes effort and self-sacrifice, but the ability to see a need and love our neighbor begins to come naturally to us - because we didn’t produce it in the first place. 

One of the beautiful parts of loving our neighbor is the fact that there are so many ways to do so. Of course, loving our neighbor includes not holding a grudge or taking vengeance as Israel was originally commanded. But loving our neighbor can include providing for the marginalized in Zagreb, caring for Roma people in Darda, taking care of the orphan in Istra, or working with former addicts in Dalmatia or hosting camps in Orahovica. Every follower of Christ has gifts and talents the Lord has given them in order to meet the immediate needs of the world around them - right here in Croatia!

For those who abide in the Lord, Jesus’ words in John jump off the page - “A new command I give to you…” This is a command to Jesus’ disciples today in Croatia. “A new command I give to you, that you love one another.” It’s a command that goes against the cultural norms, or as Tolstoy noticed is “unreasonable”. But loving our neighbor is evidence to the rest of the world that we are followers of Christ. He has revealed true love to us. And the Spirit produces the fruit within us as we abide in our Lord. 

(This article was originally published in Croatian in Izvori)

Thanksgiving Thoughts on "Thank You" and Friendship

A nice fall picture of a park on Sveti duh, Zagreb

"Thank you" is such an important staple of American culture that you probably don't realize how much you say it. Whether we're in the checkout line in a store, or at an interview, or just getting to know someone, chances are we will try to find a spot to get a "thank you" in. This is the go-to phrase for putting our best foot forward. 

I was just watching a youtube clip in which a fairly well-known actor was shuttled to an exclusive airport lounge before being chauffeured to the plane on the tarmac. One of the comments was how great a person he was because he thanked all the people along the way. 

If you're an American, this is a very normal comment expressing a well-known value throughout our culture. But there was something about it that shocked me a bit. 

What this comment reveals is how strongly a simple "thank you" can affect how people judge each other. In this case, this celebrity's character, at least to the person who commented, is shown entirely by the two words that come out of his mouth at every stop. 

I don't think it's an exaggeration to suggest that if someone forgets to express their gratefulness for a cafe late at Starbucks or a "welcome to our home!", the barista or host would be offended, and in turn, perhaps think less of their guest. 

"Thank you" is a highly valued common courtesy I figured was universal. 

Until I got to Croatia. 

Now, don't get me wrong. "Hvala" (thank you) is used often here too. But it's neither as ubiquitous nor as universal as it is in the U.S. because "hvala" in Croatia is better shown than said. 

I realized this a few years ago when a friend of mine actually got angry with me when I kept saying "hvala!". He had helped me out of a tough situation when he went out of his way to bring me a key I had forgotten. After I thanked him profusely, he stopped and practically yelled at me; "Aren't we friends?!?"

In other words, friends don't say "thank you". They simply help whenever they can, knowing that friendship speaks for itself.

I had felt desparate, knowing if I couldn't get the key I was looking for, a lot of plans would be affected. My friend, after getting my phone call, got out of bed earlier than he had planned on a holiday and drove accross town to bring me the key. And he didn't expect anything in return. Because we're friends. 

My take-away isn't so much that I shouldn't have said "thank you". I would still do so in that situation - as would many Croatians. Rather it's the unwritten rule of friendship that friends help friends out of difficult situations. In fact, that's one of the key aspects of friendship in Croatia (and the wider cultural area). Friendship is not primarily about having the same interests or cheering for the same team. It's about sacrificing youself, sometimes at a moment's notice, for your friend. It's about being available to talk, or drive, or pay, or offering your apartment to sleep in, if needed. And you don't do it in order to prove yourself or gain appreciation. You do it because you're a friend. 

This is the positive side of (not saying) thank you in Croatia.

But I'm not here to simply say we should all become more Croatian. Rather, I want to acknowledge the fact that there is a lot of good in saying "thank you!" over and over and over again. 

Because there is so much to be thankful for. Using the words "thank you" reminds us that someone else is contributing to our well-being. If Americans can be faulted for being selfish (and there are those in other parts of the world who would make that claim), our sometimes exaggerated tendency to say "thank you" would be a counter-argument. "Thank you" is proof that there is a deeply held tradition of recognizing someone else's effort or sacrifice or good deed. 

As an American who has lived outside of the U.S. for more than 15 years, I believe Thanksgiving is the best tradition Americans have to offer. It is a genuine call to pause....ponder...and praise. For those of us who believe that all good gifts come from above, we ultimately acknowledge the Source of life, salvation and all human flourishing. I am thankful for the tradition my parents handed down to me - one that was handed down to them and mirrored the families around them. 

Furthermore, I believe it is right and good to have a holiday that the Church informally, and culture officially, acknowledges for giving thanks. It is such an essential part of the human experience to deeply consider the fact that we indeed are so indebted to many who have gone before us. 

But I also believe that the Croatian understanding of deep friendship should be a model for how we express our thankfulness. Gratitude is not simply about saying "thank you". It's about showing thank you. 

Whether you are celebrating Thanksgving in the United States or it's just an ordinary četvrtak in Croatia, may this be a reminder to think about all we have. May the thought of how others have impacted your life fill you with thanksgiving and joy. And regardless of where we live, may we be prompted to show our thankfulness through close, sometimes sacrificial, friendship. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Addendum: An Unexpected Trip

Since we moved to Croatia, many people have asked me what I miss most about the States. My response is #1: Family and friends, and #2: Baseball. 

Of course the former makes a lot of sense. The latter, on the other hand, in a culture where baseball is just in the movies, takes most off guard. 

Regardless, my most recent trips to the States represent these two reasons. Last year I went to western New York to celebrate my grandparents’ 70 years of marriage . This year, in fact, right now, I am arriving in Boston to enjoy the Cubs' first trip to the World Series in 71 years.

That may sound like a trivial reason to cross the Atlantic, but this is where I come back to reason #1. Having gained a love for the Cubs from my father and having shared it with my brother, it will be a joy to watch several games with them. I'll also be able to visit close friends in Chicago, whom I haven’t seen in three years, and whose children I’ve never met. I will be able to have my cake and eat it too. 

This of course would not be possible if it weren’t for a generous gift in the form of a plane ticket from Croatia to Boston and a loving wife who initiated the trip.

I deserve this gift right? My loyalty to the Cubs has been strong since watching them lose to the Giants in the 1989 NLCS. I’ve suffered through 0-14 in 1997, Alex Gonzalez’s error in ’03 and consecutive Wild Card sweeps in ’07 and ’08. I wore my Cubs gear to middle school in a time and place where it made me a loser - if not a lovable one. 

But no, I don’t deserve it. We’re committed to a life on the other side of the ocean. We have responsibilities in Zagreb, and by the way, my love for the Cubs has done nothing to actually make them as good as they are. No, there’s really no merit for me going to the States to enjoy watching them in the World Series. 

This gift, from those who paid for it and enabled me to go, was free and initiated out of genuine love. Yes, as I fly over the Atlantic I am reminded of God’s free gift of grace which is immeasurably more valuable. And I am thankful. 

Go Cubs!

It's Time to Go

As I mentioned earlier in the week it's time to wrap up this blog. And although I don't have much more to say, I do want to conclude fittingly.

The theme of this blog has been culture shock. Originally I started it primarily as a way to process the move from America to Croatia. But it also had a faith-based component from the beginning.

In the end, the transition from one culture to another, and in a way living in two cultures at the same time, has a lot of relevance to our situation in this world as christians. As I made reference to a few days ago, we're waiting to go to our true home.

C.S. Lewis says it well: "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

But while we wait, we're already living and working in the new kingdom. This tension is both difficult and exciting. It's hard sometimes because we see the imperfection all around us. It's exciting because we have a chance to do something about it. Our task is not simply to sit by while we wait for paradise. Rather, we work towards bringing the kingdom while living in hope knowing there are far better days ahead of us.

This move is a continuation of our work in the kingdom here in Croatia. Honestly, although we have a plan and a general idea of what our task will be and what life will be like, there's a certain uncertainty about how things will turn out. This is that tension.

So we go forward in faith believing that the One who determines our steps will provide as He has always done. The Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever.

The Bohalls, August 2016

The Bohall Kids Talk About Moving

What goes through a child's mind when they find out they're moving?

Since we decided to move to Zagreb, I've heard that moving is one of the most traumatic things a child can go through. This NY Times article says that the effects can be felt even into adulthood. Looking back at my own experience, I remember not being happy about moving. However, doing so as a child and teenager is what helped me adapt fairly easily to life in Croatia.

Another thing the linked article talks about is the difference moving has on introverts vs. extroverts. Predictably, it's more difficult on the former than the latter. From my own perspective as an introvert, moving wasn't pleasant, but it brought about more personality flexibility. I am now more extroverted than I used to be.

One of the positive things about moving to Zagreb (vs. somewhere outside Croatia) is that we have friends and family there. Our children have acquaintances and we already have a local church we're ready to call home. This, combined with the fact that our children are still relatively young, gives us hope that the move won't be too traumatic.

In talking to our oldest son, Enoh, about the move, he's the one who is least happy. I decided to ask each of the kids a few questions about the move to see what they're thinking about. In watching the interviews, I don't see anything too profound. But if nothing else, this should be interesting for us, and them, to watch in the future as we look back at the unknown of moving.

Take a look if you're interested.

Be Ready!

The fifteen of us were in Poland surrounded by wooden structures of various shapes and sizes. We had traveled 12 hours from Croatia to live in tents for a week. In my calculation we formed the smallest campsite of all the villages that totaled 7,200 campers. We were at Royal Ranger (RR) Eurocamp 2016.

This was the second RR camp I had attended in two years, but by far the biggest camp I had ever been to. The hosts had prepared for nearly four years and it showed. The infrastructure and organization could not have been better. In attending the leaders meetings every morning at camp I saw that there were some minor challenges here and there, but overall it was obvious they were ready when we came.

On the second day of camp I was asked to share a message during the village devotional time. In similar situations in the past I'd have said no. I only had two days to prepare. The theme wasn't one I had spent much time studying. But the answer fell out of my mouth before I really processed those details. "Yes, I'd be happy to!"

When it was time to speak, I realized that the group of 300 campers was the biggest group I had ever spoken to.

Our motto as Royal Rangers is "Be Ready" It's something I've been trying to teach others. Maybe I had finally learned myself. The state of being ready is completely dependent on the amount of preparation one does ahead of time. In organizing the trip for our 15 campers I had prepared the logistics ahead of time. Therefore we were ready when the day came to travel. The Eurocamp team was ready for us because they had prepared well ahead of time.

I believe the main reason I was ready to speak during our morning devotional time was because I've been spending this year consistently reading and studying Scripture more than any other time in my life. The Bible Project has helped with an incredible reading plan and intro videos that have helped me be immersed in God's Word. It was this constant discipline of devotional time that allowed me to be ready.

And I believe this is how we as ministry workers...no we as Christians, can best prepare for any event. In the New Testament we are constantly encouraged to be ready; "Be prepared to give an answer" (I Pet 3:15), "Be alert at all times" (Luke 21:36). Paul encourages us to put on the full armor of God which includes the sword of the Spirit. Being ready and studying the Word are strongly connected. That's what I experienced when I was out of my comfort zone of preparing a message without much time of preparation.

The camp was a huge success because of the preparation of the organizers. Our experience there and our trip there and back were smooth because of our preparedness and God's hand of grace upon us. We grew in our relationship with the Lord and with one another. All in all it was a tremendous experience for the 15 of us from Croatia. But if there's anything I would like to pass on to the younger Rangers it's this: Read, study and memorize Scripture so that you are always ready to serve the Lord in whatever capacity you are asked to.

The video below offers a taste of Royal Ranger Eurocamp 2016.

Home

Where is home?

Petra and I lived in Orahovica for 9 years - longer than I've lived in any one place in my life. Without a doubt I considered Orahovica home. The house we lived in, our four kids who learned to eat and walk there and the daily routine all contributed to us calling it home.

So how will it be possible to call Zagreb home now?

For Enoh, our eight year old, home was most about his teacher and his classmates/friends. Here in Croatia you have the same teacher from first to fourth grade. Of our four children, this move is hardest on Enoh because of the relationships he has in Orahovica.

That's what I remember most about our moves when I was a kid/teenager. Sure, I missed the cornfields and apple trees I grew up playing around in Iowa and the field I spend hours playing home-run derby in in Wisconsin. But it was the friendships I missed most.

It's the friendships that created the greatest pull back to Croatia for my wife. Upon moving to Croatia 10 years ago, we calculated that Petra had spent exactly the same amount of her life in America as she had in Croatia. The thing is, she felt more at home in Croatia. In a relationship based culture (as opposed to the schedule oriented culture in America) this makes sense.  It can be difficult for a foreigner to find a way "in" to this sort of culture. But once one is in, leaving can be a difficult thing.

And so the web of relationships keeps us in Croatia despite an attractive option of working together with friends in the States. Simply put, Croatia is home.

In a recent conversation Petra told me the table most represents home home for her. And that makes a lot of sense. So many friendships were begun, renewed and strengthened around our dining room table. Of all the material things we moved, the table was first priority.

Of course, a material building and physical space can become both real and symbolic expressions of home. But without family and friends they become virtually meaningless. We were created as relational beings. And as God's creatures we look forward to the day when our fellowship will be perfect. We long to go home.

Until then we imitate what we look forward to in the imperfect world of moving and goodbyes. But even the imitation is enjoyable when we share it with others. Yes, our table is coming with us to Zagreb in expectation that it will see many more relationships enjoyed around it. Zagreb will soon feel like home to us. And the table will be one of the main reasons why.

Home is where the table is.

Here are some pictures of our fellowship around (and sometimes on) the table in Orahovica over the years.

Mexican night for our high school group in 2009

Dutch Blitz "Croatian Cup" 2010

2011

New Year's Celebration 2013

Emily's birthday 2014

Buffalo Wings 2014

January 2015

Thanksgiving 2015

Cousins 2016