I Spy….with “childlike wonder”
If you haven’t played this game at some point in your life…maybe it’s time to consider. A couple reasons come to mind firstly, the idea of of playing a game resembles the presence of a child and the simple nature of being amused by the simple things that somehow or another get lost in the shuffle of this vapor called life. Wiggling of toes, amusing shadows on sidewalks and cold air allowing for glimpses of the very breath God’s given to us as life are just a few examples to remind us of how fearfully and wonderfully made we are. Secondly, a great opportunity to let your imagination play and create anything your minds eye sees as a relevant surprise to the souls thirst to not only be seen, but to see.
So while walking around the central market area yesterday here in a small town called , Moldova…I found myself feeling as though there was something happening around me I didn’t know. Possibly a game…? Anyone for a lil’ eye spy? One problem, I was the one being spied on! Somewhat of an awkward feeling when you have a few hundred people staring at you as if that long perfectly shaped Dairy Queen vanilla swirl of a horn coming out of your forehead isn’t supposed to be there. Yes, I’m referring to the infamous unicorn that I’ve come to relate to while being here. Amongst many locals here in , Moldova who have only seen a darker skinned person on TV, in a dream or possibly a publication and not in their own neighborhood I so often hear the “ewah” and “awah” of the mystical creatures presence and sometimes turn to see what they’re looking at, only to find a mirror reflection of me staring back. Some have only dreamed of such a mystical creature..and somehow..I find myself in that exact same dream (minus the fields of endless sunflowers and mystical colors as they decorate the landscape and setting sun with the morning moon dancing across a sea of blue honey sky while avoiding the shared landscape of sweet milk-flavored cotton candy clouds.) Ok, maybe that’s only in my head that I’ve had such wonders, none the less I know what it feels like to be stared at with the same wonder that I’ve only imagined. This brought a mental picture into my mind about some bible characters that may have experienced the same conflict with societies need to judge who you are or what your about without giving you the same, love respect and adoration they would the dreaded beauty of a unicorn.
So often we see situations of unfamiliarity and choose to accept only what we understand instead of making room in our minds and hearts for growth. We settle for separation and seclusion instead of gain and wonder – “childlike wonder”. A new birth of ideas presented to recreate, reshape and redefine what we think we know happens when we step into the dark and learn more than when we are in the light. Walking in darkness is what fear looks like untamed. But to choose light and walk in that over any amount of fear is what working faith looks like – unfiltered. And with “childlike wonder” we walk into some of the greatest blessings we could ever imagine. This is what I can only assume to be a similar situation in the case of the leper in Luke 17 (12-19). I’ve never seen a leper and personally have a strong belief I’ll see my first of many things on this journey over the next 10 months, but I also believe that not only did the lepers have a sense of being outcasts from everything they know, but they have an even stronger association with something they have never seen – love. The love that we all too often overlook due to busy schedules, preconceived ideas of who we are and who’s we are, keep us from not only giving love, but receiving love. These 10 lepers, in spite of their condition and how they’ve been treated by others, believed that Jesus would have mercy on them and show them love by healing them. And with “childlike wonder” the called out and asked that Jesus have mercy on them and heal them. Sometimes all we need is a little wonder to dare such things as call on His name and let Him show us what love is. Some of us have never experienced such a love that excludes all doubts and fears and includes all love and faith regardless of who you are and what you look like. And sometimes when we are bold enough to stand and ask for this blinding love by faith we receive, but too often forget (much like the 9 other lepers) that it was His love that brought us through – not as the world gives, give I unto you.
As the time here in , Moldova is winding down, I will count it pure joy to be stared at in His name. Even if with people don’t believe in the God that I serve, I hope that while they stare that with “childlike wonder” they imagine many things throughout the day and see a glimpse of the One I live for. When they stare not just at the many things around them like the earth, tree, flowers, animals and each other I pray they see not only a Sovereign Savior but a loving God. Also when they look at me they see in me a God that is mighty to save and His mercies (love) are new every morning, so if they have run away from God’s many blessings (like the 9 lepers) or are coming home for the first time (like the 1 who returned) He desires to have you wiggle your toes and play with dancing shadows on the sidewalk in His name, like His child – Abba’s child.
