Well, I have been hear a little over a month now. One thing that I have been reflective about is the people that I see each day. Many have been such a blessing as they have offered us food or drink in the different places we go. Many have warm smiles or curious looks. However, yesterday there was a man (not sure how old, but he was young, 24??) and he was stumbling around in the middle of the street. He could barely walk he was so high on something. It is common to see people all in the streets as you drive...many in a similar condition to this man. However, I caught a glimpse of this guys face...we made eye contact. Wow, I thought, what a terrible existance. He had no hope in his eyes. He looked de-humanized.
It was just a moment, a glance, and we were gone. I wondered where he stumbled off to. Then I started thinking...why are there so many people here like this...what has happened here?
But then I remembered that here people live with open doors! You see their lives, their days, their hours! Many live in wood or cardboard homes and they all theyd do in them is sleep. All other hours of the day they "live" outside for all to see.
HHHmmm, I wonder what we would see in the U.S. if there were no doors? If we could see inside people's homes to see daily life. Would we see people self-medicating? Would we see hoplessness? Would we see hunger, thirst, anger, pain? What would people see if they had a window seat view into my life up to this point?
"And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd" (Mark 6:34)
"When he saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary (harassed, helpless) and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36)
No matter where we go in this world there will sheep be, scatterd without a shepherd. They are there living right down the road from you; they work next to you; they pass by you walking through the store....
God, open the doors that we may see, open our ears that we may hear and have compassion! We have to share the good news...we have to give hope...we have to open our doors! In His great mercy He has given us hope!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1: 3-5)
As a believer, do you remember life and what it was like before you heard the good news of the gospel? Do you remember trying to do life on your own...
Wow, how eye-opening, Rachel! I sometimes forget that I ever lived among people like what you described. We get so comfortable in our "hidden" lives here. It becomes easy to forget that we are continuously encountering shepherdless people and how desperately they need to be brought into the fold. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective, Rachel! I'm really glad you shared this. The human condition (of being trapped in sin) exists everywhere, although, as you've pointed out, presents itself differently in different areas. I'm glad you got to see it for what it is. Praise Jesus that you get to see it "for real" and not just a front. I pray we become more open here, and regardless, share the Love of Christ.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, the hardest workout I've ever done is on the docket for tomorrow morning (it's the 3x circuit with lunges, and line touches, and bear crawls... oh my)! I'm looking forward to see my progress from the last time I (barely) did it!
Love,
Rachel
Workout Update...
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that I did the WHOLE thing! It was hard, but I kept thinking about submission. There are a lot of times when I don't want to do something because I'm too tired and I don't feel like doing it- my time spent in the Word all too often gets the brunt of this laziness. So, today's workout was an exericse in overcoming physical weakness- and by the grace of God, I did it! Thanks for the encouragement!!