Loyalty

I have been mulling over this for a while- so cozy up with some hot coffee (since I hear Oregon is enjoying some snow) and ponder along with me!

Multiple times in the past month I have come across the topic of loyalty. Where do I put my hope? Where do I stand true towards under pressure? Multiple discussions and readings have questioned my ideas of loyalty, in a good way.

Over break I read a book about a Chinese boy who befriends a Japanese girl during World War II. She was sent to an internment camp while he was allowed to stay at his home in Seattle. The part that struck me the most was when the boy went and visited the girl’s family at the camp. He got in a discussion with the girl’s father about the recent draft- and the fact that Japanese were allowed to enlist even though they had been shunned.

Reading this, I would have thought the father would have scoffed at the idea of supporting the country who took away many of his rights. The opposite was true. The father wanted to join the army and support the country he called home. Even though the government had deemed him a spy and traitor, he was still loyal to the United States and wanted to serve his country of birth.

This baffles me. I could not imagine standing up and publicly fighting for a country that did not trust me. I would also be furious that my family was forced to leave they life they knew and be relocated in what was essentially a prison. That is true loyalty- believing and trusting even when it does not make sense.

Today in class I taught about Martin Luther King Jr. and the legacy he left. We discussed life in pre-civil rights America, and the changes MLK fought to make happen. As part of preparation I read the “I Have a Dream” speech and it floored me. Martin had a strong belief in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. He envisioned a world where the government would provide and support every citizen-regardless of race. He spoke of a nation that would be free for everyone.

Again, I was baffled in MLK’s patriotism to the United States. In his time it was a place that looked down upon him and thought of him as a second class citizen. Still, he was able to stand in front of 250,000 people and declare his allegiance to his country. That is true loyalty.

With both of these examples, I cant but ponder what am I loyal to? Where do I put my hope and trust, even when times are complicated?

My first loyalty is to God- my Savior and creator. By putting my hope and my trust in him I know I will be held together. But what does that mean? In some cases I think it means standing up for the gospel even when it doesn’t seem easy. In other cases it means leaving things behind to serve others. There are times that are hard, where serving God doesnt make sense (I mean, I live in Mali- try to explain that to just anyone). But that is when our true loyalty shines through. It is easy to be excited about the easy things of life- but that is just a fad and will fade away. My true focus needs to be God- no matter the circumstances. That is true loyalty.

Second, I am learning to be loyal to my husband- He must come before me, his needs before my own. This can be easy at times and challenging at time (especially when I am grumpy). As we grow in our marriage I have the honor to going where he goes and serving alongside him. My focus must be on him and working to make our relationship be one that honors God together. Our relationship is a living example of God’s love for us and the church. By prioritizing our vows and each other, we are able to live a loyal relationship on earth.

Third, I am not really sure. I would say it is a combination of friends, students, and the ministry I am called to. These may change as time goes on, and yet still I am to uphold them and treasure them. There are times though, that I will be called to set those aside in order to focus on my first loyalty- God. When other things become more important- then they are idols and need to be cast aside. That is where the loyalty ends.

Loyalty is not half hearted. As a Christ follower, it is my honor and challenge to be completely loyal to God and the work He is doing on earth. When other things get in the way of this loyalty, troubles will arise. I find that frustrating, but at the same time is makes sense. One cannot have two masters- especially if they contradict each other. It must be one.

I guess what I have come away from this is that Loyalty is vital- as long as it is focused in the correct direction. It is hard. It doesn’t always make sense. And that is ok.