Friday, August 22nd
Salthill, Ireland
I am a big fan of words and any time I can use big fun words like juxtaposition is a great day! If only I felt this smart when I sat down to take my SAT! But the juxtaposition of the beauty and the death here in Ireland is quite hard to describe. Our living quarters are made up of our tents overlooking the sea. You can actually hear the water as it laps the shore. You can see a cliff within walking distance and if you actually take the opportunity to walk up the cliff, it will take your breath away. There are sheep and lush green pastures that we pass on our way into town or out to the pastor’s house. The flowers are vibrant – a deeper and brighter color than any I have ever seen. The accents of the people are endearing.
But mixed in with all of that brilliant beauty is a community that finds Jesus irrelevant. A culture that has been hurt by the church and is therefore, turned off by the presence of it. There are less than 1% evangelical christians that grace the cliffs and pastures of this place. Suicide rates and hopelessness reign here. All juxtaposed with one of the most amazing views I have ever seen or experienced. I am sitting at a restaurant overlooking the water and sipping tea. This is a norm here. And it is something that draws me so much closer to the heart of Father. Something that I can be so thankful for. But I would imagine without knowing that it is Jesus who gives you moments like this, the view would get old, the accents normal, the colors less beautiful, and the sheep a bother as they cause traffic jams when they are being herded across the street.
I can’t help be reminded of Romans 1:20 – “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” I wonder if the view here is so brilliant so as to draw people in, to question if there is anything more stunning. To question where such a creation came from. To be without excuse. And as I ponder this verse further, my heart hurts for the people here who need truth. Who are going about their days and managing. Managing the views with their tormented hearts. I see a ginger (red headed) child walk in to the restaurant and am drawn to the stereotype Irish lad and wonder what he thinks of all this. Or if he gives it a second thought at all. I shall pray that just as the freckles spot his face, that Jesus would cover his heart and show him that true beauty is found in redemption. I shall pray that he will not be enticed into the life that is normal here. That he will stand up to false truths. That he will wrestle with the juxtaposition and know that He is more stunning than these cliffs that seem to call out to me from my post in the restaurant.
