I am 24 now!
It’s a little strange to have a birthday in the midst of a mission trip. It’s almost a contradiction, to live with a mindset of service and then have a day when everyone around you keeps double-checking to make sure you’re having the Best. Day. Ever. I’m not huge into celebrating my own birthday anyway, so I was perfectly content to spend the day like a regular Sunday (minus the being-in-Albania part): we met another team in town for church, then had a relaxing day off. Most of my teammates and I took a bus over to one of the more touristy beaches in the area, where I dipped my feet into the Adriatic Sea, and splurged on some sweet tea.
While we were there, though, something incredible unfolded just a few yards away. Some of our group went swimming, so there were a couple of us sitting by the bags and finishing our lunches. I was people watching, as I tend to do, and saw a man carrying another man from the beach chairs towards the water. My initial thoughts were 1) he’s going to throw him in as a joke and 2) isn’t it nice how European men are so allowed to show physical affection to one another.
But the man didn’t toss his friend to the waves. Instead, he set him down gently in the shallow water. Immediately, I thought of a passage from Matthew I had only recently read.
And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sings” – he then said to the paralytic – “Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with are, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. (Matthew 9:2-8)
Sure enough, the man walked back to his spot to get a large inner tube, which he helped maneuver his friend into. Then he settled down under his umbrella, keeping a watchful eye over his floating friend. Next to him sat the other man’s wheelchair.
I witnessed a miracle on that beach. For my birthday, I saw Christ in the least likely of places, through a man who may have given up his whole afternoon just to see to it that someone who usually couldn’t had the chance to enjoy swimming in the sea. A complete stranger, totally unrelated to our ministry, showed me how powerful it can be when we serve others.
