This morning I awoke to noise. Lots of it. Not in the natural, but in a dream. I was in a cafeteria or conference room. Everyone seemed to know everyone but the volume of the conversations was maddening. A pregnant woman was standing next to me and people began to make fun of her. Another man I knew soon came under fire. I watched as the room began to fall under the noise and the anger.

I awoke wondering what was that all about. But as I thought about it I saw that people with no “social” code, hurts or anger just escalated. I had looked around the room and attempted to determine who was who, but as the noise grew louder, people began standing and yelling. What I was seeing was the world with the absence of God. But not God as God Himself but the absence because of the absence of His people. People meant to be carrying the heart, the mind, the soul of God and His character. Where was the love? Where was the peace?

It bothered me.

This morning I reflected on a conversation of this past week. I was talking to a health care worker. The topic was children and their health. Or more importantly, the lack of health. She said that despite the large outlay of money and the availability to obtain services (I am not saying there is enough service to go around. I just had a friend unable to obtain a surgery because of the lack of doctors and workers.) many are not taking advantage of them. She said she did not know why but as she met with children, clearly that was evident.

I reflected on that and numerous other conversations.

Our world does not reflect the lack of Bible believing Christians, but it does appear to lack the impact we need to make on some levels, particularly here in America. As I pondered that, I thought what would it take. Of course the easy answer is “full scale revival”. But the harder answer falls under the heading of time, direction, strategy and the big one…willingness.

Will you or I get involved?

The roomful of people in my dream, clearly did not know how to “act” or behave. Why was I there? I think my answer was to be more than an observer. In the dream I was pushed out of the room, but it did not end there. There were two young ladies sitting on the floor who would not participate. I began to converse with them.

Perhaps we have to move through some shouting to get to the real issues. I do not think it is so much about a remnant, but about a people who are in need of a Savior. I can not embrace a theology that does not include my neighbor.

I believe in prayer and I believe we must pray. But, I wonder if we see the value of getting involved. Participating. What is it that becomes sacrificial of your time or your money? I think we have relegated the word sacrifice to a “dead works” pile. Tossed it on the heap of “religious things we don’t do”. I suspect that theology or doctrine or thought process is missing the mark. I am pretty sure that in the covenant of grace there is giving of both time and monies. I am pretty sure for America to turn folks are going to have to be a little more involved on both levels to see change.

I meditated on  that word, willingness. It is defined by other words. Inclination. A leaning towards. Alacrity. A cheerful readiness and promptness. Desire. The reasoning behind doing.

I think God is seeking a willing heart. Perfumed with love and backed with faith. Where will it go? Where will it lead? To where it is needed the most. Hurting people who are in pain.