So yesterday we traveled from Cochabamba to La Paz as our first leg of this crazy week of traveling. We of course took a tour bus and enjoyed the scenic 7 hour bus ride to the Bolivian capital. About half way we stopped on the side of the road for a short bathroom break. The girls scattered into the hills behind the boulders on the right side of the highway and all the guys stood their ground on the left side with a beautiful backdrop of the Andes mountains.
So as I stepped of the bus for a short break I heard some banging and was a little bit confused. I was one the last ones off the bus and those who were left were either sleeping or walking off behind me. So the banging wasn’t the usual shenanigans of someone trying to get attention through the windows.
When I walked past the bus once again on my way to get back on, I noticed one of the hatches open and it caught my eye. What I saw made my heart sink. There was an elderly woman sitting in the cargo hold under the bus and she was there for the past 3 hours or so of our trip.
The mountain air was cold, it was dark, and she was all by herself with our luggage. I was disgusted. My heart was broken. How is this a way of treating someone? How is this fair? Sure “there are worse things happening out there!” But this was one of the craziest things I had ever seen before. The thing was that we didn’t know she was down there, or we would have surely invited her into the bus with us. And of course the culture is a lot different than America. My understanding was that she was a worker of some sort and was getting a free ride back to La Paz.
But none the less of all the contexts, my heart sank. I was confused. And for some reason I caught myself tearing up. What was this all about? She was alright and taken care of, so what was the big deal? I asked the Lord, “What were these tears for? Were they a guilty release of my role as a ‘well off person’? or were they tears for the ‘inhumane’ treatment I just witnessed?”
Then Lord answered me, “This is me Matt! I called out and you recognized me. Your heart broke for something greater than you. You gave food, a warm smile, and comfort to me.”
I admit that sometimes I take things for granted, a lot! I am understanding what it means to see God’s heart and it’s brokenness for His people. I’m seeing how much I look at myself as above or higher class than others. These are lies I’m trying to sort through. This journey has been full of people I have ignored by not giving those extra 10 seconds to smile to, times I held onto a piece of fruit that I should have given away, or I walked by someone who needed a hand lifting or digging. Does this mean I’m a bad person? Does this mean that I have failed in my Christian duties? I don’t think so. I believe I’m at the point where my heart is starting to feel what Christ’s heart feels every moment of everyday. In Christ’s eyes we are all equal and we are called put others greater than us. Sure it’s confusing at times, but in this situation it all made sense. Putting others first is always a hit when it comes to putting our own comforts, needs, and possessions aside. I did realize how much I have still been holding onto things that Christ is guiding me to let go in my abandonment process. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. Are you?!
