Norma Nashed was born in Palestine but was raised in Jordan. She experienced extreme poverty as a child because her father spent all the family’s income on alcohol. She believes this experience prepared her heart to be sensitive to the needs of others. Her motto is: “remain unstained by the world.”
Norma Nashed
How do you remain “unstained by the world?” And, what are the “stains” James is referring to in James 1:27? Is James talking about the opposites of the fruit of the Spirit—hate, grief, fear, anxiousness, meanness, disloyalty, harshness, and self-indulgence? I’m a pretty nice person but I still struggle with grief, fear, and anxiousness. Does this mean I’m being “stained” by the world?
How encouraging to hear the story of Norma’s life. She was elected as one of the first two Jordanian girls to attend a private pilot course in Jordan. Norma navigated as a Christian woman in a Muslin society most of her life, eventually becoming the personal secretary to Ali Ghandour, organizer and later Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Jordanian Airlines.
Now Norma devotes her life to helping children all over the world. Most recently a Jewish gentleman has pledged to match donations up to $100,000. “It’s amazing how God has led a Jewish man to help an Arab woman!” She exclaims.
Yes, I think these hard economic times can be a tremendous blessing to people of faith. First, it strengthens our faith because we now experience God’s providence firsthand. And, second, we can follow God’s job description without the distraction of a “worldly” job.
So, how do you remain unstained by the world?
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What commitment. I sure hope she gets her goal of 100,000 dollars. Just think of how many children can be fed. And here I’m worried about how to pay the cable bill.
To remain unstained by the world means to not put your hopes in worldly things, such us leaders, governments, and money. Instead we are to put our hope in God and not be affected in our faith by ups and downs in economy and politics.
The economic recession is great lesson and a blessing indeed, as we see the disappointment and disillusionment among those who have grown pround in their wealth, at their fancy jobs. The folly of riches is manifest, and we see that wisdom and safety come from God and not from banks and businesses.
In times of James being stained by the world meant being seduced by glory and might of Rome. These days it means forsaking our spirituality and love for careers.
Becoming stained by the world means losing perspective of what matters, leaving the invisible for the sake of material, and losing love and grace in the process.
Peace be upon my brothers and sisters in Christ,
John