The heat rises off the pavement as I walk down the street. The beat of the music resonates in my body, my legs and hips starting to dance to the tune. The cacophony of voices, music, a car horn, and the thunder from the approaching storm overwhelms my ears. As I walk through the market, I see vendors competing with each other to draw in customers, a crazy taxi driver shouting at people to move out of the way, and a crush of humanity trying to go about its business. Then, I see him.
A blind beggar. Crying out for help as he pounds sticks on the ground. His life almost ends as the taxi swerves to miss him. Countless people pass him by without a second glance. I raise my camera to capture him, then turn away, wishing I could do something for him.
This scenario happened at Training Camp. The blind beggar was really one of our trainers, acting in our marketplace scenario. But this scene is all too real in the world. When we debriefed about this exercise, one of the trainers pointed out that only one person stopped and prayed with the blind beggar and another woman also begging. I was filled with so much guilt. Why didn't I stop and pray with them? Even if it was a scenario, they still need prayer. And what does that say about me, that I would capture his image, but fail to share Christ and allow Him to capture his heart? I beat myself up about it a little too much, until God stepped in and reminded me that I am human. I screw up all the time. I fail. I make mistakes. But God loves me. He loves me so much He died for me, that I would be His. He loves me so much that He continues to work in my life. That stopped me. He CONTINUES to work. That doesn't mean that I went to Training Camp and became perfect in my walk with Christ. He continues to work. It's a process. How freeing! When I do fail, I don't need to beat myself up for it. I need to turn it over to God and allow Him to teach me how to change. I need to seek God and ask Him to make me more like Him.
I will always remember the blind beggar who wasn't really blind. He taught me to stop and ask God for direction. I will see blind beggars on the World Race. I will see people who are crippled, broken, diseased, and impoverished. And I have a choice. I can capture their image and remember them for their plight. Or I can stop and share Christ with them, and remember them as brothers and sisters. How I pray that God would remind me. That He would capture me with His love for His children.
