This year has taught me a lot to say the least.. It’s showed me that there’s so much going on in this world. It’s showed me the true beauty in the human race. It’s showed me the various ways God works everyday in the lives of people in all nations. It’s showed me that there’s different ways to look at everything. And sometimes that doesn’t just mean perspective. Sometimes that means that you’ve seen the pain and hurt and suffering all over and now when you view something small or simple it may mean your thinking about something heartbreaking or heart warming you’ve seen somewhere else that your mind now relates the two scenarios. These things now cloud my mind constantly. And I guess the reason I’m writing this blog is to not only in some form share what I’ve seen but to also inform you that if I seem distant in a simple moment it doesn’t mean I don’t care to be with you or wish I was somewhere else. I’m just replaying scenes over and over in my head like movie clips. These scenes continue to shape what I see. And although these very simple things may bring sadness, it’s encouraging to know such a simple thing can also swarm your brain with impactful memories of something that once touched you in an incredible way. So I share this with you to take a look through my eyes, and see what I see now.
When I See A
Dirt Road– I see the miles upon miles walked down these uncaitered paths which brought me to the lives of those who live outside the busy areas of the world. These roads don’t lead to anywhere specific. Sometimes a small hut where a family lives who greet you with a smile and a cup of tea or a hug from a loving mother. They could lead to a slum village where those who live there flood outside of cracks and crevasses to welcome you to their little town. You may come upon a school no bigger than your shed where the children wave and smile at you while they learn the basics of life. These roads brought me to places unimaginable, incredibly loving, over expressingly inviting, anything you never thought would exist down a simple dirt road.
Small Snack Bag– I see the young children all over the world walking around asking you to buy a bag of peanuts, plantain chips, cookies, anything to make a few dollars. These children very rarely were over the age of 10. And although due to their brains being wired to think a certain way and only see you as someone who may buy something. I see them as an incredibly loved, seen, and cared for child of God. Their eyes of innocents scream for attention and love.
Dog– I think of all the uncountable dogs I saw in every different country we visited. Weather in Asia, Africa, or Central America These dogs filled the streets. You would be lucky if you saw one who wasn’t fighting for survival. They look sad, lost, and lonely. You can see there lives in the the scars, missing eyes, broken legs, or every bone in their body because how grossly underweight they are. The term “mans best friend” doesn’t make it far out of the U.S. These dogs have no interest in being pet because of the abuse they have all received at one time or another. Yet you can see their unfathomable loyalty as they protect the homeless sleeping on the street. Maybe they feel a sense of connection.
Soccer Ball– I think of the hundreds of soccer games I watched or was blessed to be apart of in each country. It’s this incredible universal sport that I have yet to hear a single child say anything but “I love soccer!”. From month 1 to 11 I was invited into this time with the kids. While playing this game it was almost like all the other worries, weights, and cares of the world just seem to be put on pause. I think about all the 7 year olds who absolutely schooled me, and taught me the lesson of humility. I think of all the laughs, high fives and cheers shared during this game. I think of how they didn’t need a brand new ball to play, most of the time it was far from new. But they were happy just to have a dirt, cement, or grass field to run and play with. They made goals out of rocks, shoes, poles, or really anything they could find. They didn’t let materials or the environment stop them from the joy this sport brought them.
Cardboard Box– I see the slum villages we visited. How this thing we consider “trash” became a wall in the place they call “home”. I think about the homeless we visited or passed out food to who called it a “bed”. I see how inivatied people can be. How they don’t let circumstances stop them from living. I see the value in the things we consider so simple. How truly “One mans trash can become another man’s treasure”.
Towel– I think about the little girls who lived in the slum village of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire who turned an old dirty bath towel into a dress. Who were just happy to have something to cover their bodies, because the fact is not everyone who lived there did. And how absolutely precious and beautiful they looked. In many ways they outshined the most expensive, tailored, fashion dresses you see walking down the runway.
18 Wheeler– I think about the hundreds of men we meet in Africa who spend a large portion of their lives ether driving their trucks from one country to the next or hanging out underneath them for months at a time to provide money for their families back home. They may only see them once a year, but it’s a sacrifice they are willing to make to provide for them. I sat under many of these trucks, drinking their tea, speaking of life, love and faith. What we sometimes see as simply a vehicle, They see as a home, and a chance to love their family from afar.
Cup Of Tea– I can feel the warmth of every cup of tea handed to me by a stranger as they invite me into their homes. We became family as we shared that simple drink. Whether they lived in a beautiful two story house or a beautiful little hut. This drink created the space for us to speak, laugh, sing, pray, and invite God into the place we were gathered. These teas had various different tastes, but they all shared the ingredient of love, and hospitality. They were a simply beautiful gesture of “Welcome to my home, I may not have much to offer you but know when you walk through that door and sip this tea, we are all Family.” And it was more than I could ever ask to be offered. What they found to be “not much” I viewed as “the world”.
This is just a short list of the things that crowd my mind. So when you see me again and you offer me a cup of tea or a bag of peanuts. Maybe introduce me to your dog. You may ask me to play soccer or to break down a cardboard box. We might drive past an 18 wheeler or dirt road and I may seem distant, I may randomly smile, or even shed a tear. Please don’t be freaked out. I’ve seen a lot, its not weird or sad. It’s a blessing I have been able to be apart of. And it doesn’t all just go away or vanish the second I land in America. Just because it’s no longer their physically doesn’t mean it doesn’t crowd my mind constantly. If you want to hear about it, just ask. But don’t feel like you have to. It’s my burden that i’ll gladly carry with me the rest of my life.
