The man flogged him relentlessly. The belt violently thrashed the boy’s flesh provoking a steady stream of tears as we sat in the back of our pick-up unsure of the “right” thing to do. Moments before, this child was smiling and laughing as we communicated through our jumbled Creole and English phrases. Upon seeing him speaking to us, his brother charged onto the scene, belt in hand, and unleashed fury on this child. Matt, one of our team leaders, hopped off of the pick-up but immediately paused after witnessing blow after blow slapping the little boy. I remember thinking, what do we do?
As much as Matt or I wanted to jump into the middle and stop the beating, the thought of knowing that this kid still had to go home interrupted any notion of breaking the abuse. We were caught in the middle of injustice with our hands tied. If we stopped it now, he could get it worse later. If we didn’t stop it, we were forced to watch it and have those images seared into our minds. Never before have I witnessed such intense rage and passion released on an innocent child. I was crushed. His face winced with each blow, and the bruises formed instantly. His skin was battered and broken. My body cringed and shivers went up and down my spine. I was perplexed and had no idea what to do. Somehow prayer didn’t seem like enough. Is that going to stop this? I mean, maybe in the long run, but right now? HELPLESSNESS…
As we rode home the other day, after mobilizing 50 WR Relief Trippers, we stopped by the Haitian White House for some quick snapshots. It seems that no matter where you are in Haiti, if you’re an American, you stick out like a sore thumb. The perception is that every American is rich and has money to give out…ALWAYS. So each day that we are out and about, we are easily targeted and bombarded by hungry people. And who can blame them really? So as we sat in our vehicle, a few small children scarcely clothed approached us shouting “give me dollar, give me dollar.” I’ve been in this same exact situation countless times. I’ve heard the cries of the poor asking for money or for food and my response is always the same.
We a
re told to not give money to anyone. Why? Because the ensuing mob that thrusts themselves upon you is overwhelming and fights tend to break out when they see that handouts are being given. Sure enough, we did not give them money, but we did give one child a loaf of bread. Chaos erupted. Kids were climbing on the back of our vehicle, pushing and shoving, doing anything they could to get close to the people handing out food. One child climbed straight over top and lunged toward another loaf of bread and my gut reaction was to grab his wrist and say NO. That’s when it hit me.
I’ve been conditioned to serve when things are convenient. We have “scheduled” ministry time, and that’s the time we love on orphans or do feeding programs. When they approach us, however, we’re told to just say no as if it’s a crime to give to give handouts to a begging person. Maybe it’s just the American mindset. Maybe I just want to feel good because I’m doing good on my time and not when it’s really hard for me to give. Somehow I don’t think Jesus did that. In fact, he says:
gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in,
I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison
and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did
we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or
in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth,
whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do
for me.’
~Matthew 25:42-45
Strong words. Even though I’ve seen this before, I realize that my heart is positioned differently. What would it look like if I literally gave everything I had? I mean, think about it, give all of the food out, then when they needed clothes, give the clothes off of my back. I know this may sound extreme but I never once read anywhere that Jesus turned people away when they asked. How did he handle the intense needs of the poor? How did he tame the mobs of people who were in such great need? I am perplexed right now. I keep seeking the Lord to understand why I respond the way that I do and why I don’t just GIVE. I think there’s more to this, I just don’t have the answers right now. I don’t want to turn a deaf ear anymore to the cries of the poor just because it’s not convenient. God show me what it means to be uncomfortable. Show me what it means to give until I have nothing.
