The last three travel days has taken its toll.
My team and I have been traveling nonstop from Washington D.C. to a twelve and a half hour flight to Doha Qatar. We hopped immediately on a five hour flight to Kolkata, where I daydreamed meeting Mother Teresa; and had an eleven hour layover. We then hopped on a two hour flight to Hyderabad where we met our contact hosts and are now on a bus traveling to a remote village; which is where I'm writing this.
I have to remind myself to enjoy the process. When your body is exhausted from lack of sleep, and the bus without A/C you've been sitting in for 10+ hours starts to smell–and when can't distinguish whether it's you or India; you get the privilege to choose joy and enjoy each step.
I came on this Kingdom journey, not to change the world. I came to learn from my mentors–the poor and the children. The poor have much to teach us about desperation, hunger, and thirst. If you want to learn about desperation, sit with those on the margins. If you want to learn about hunger, sit with the hungry. If you want to learn how to be thirsty, sit with those without drink.
As I look out this bus window, back at all of the bobbling heads and curious eyes, my heart pangs with compassion. I see the image of God on each child, man, and woman and I so desperately want Papa's love to be manifested to them. As I see huge idols and statues, my heart hurts, knowing that they are exchanging the glory of God for images fashioned by human hands.
I am here to bring the Kingdom where light breaks through the darkness, where love shouts from the roof tops and embraces the broken and ignored. For the redemption that lies beyond these dirt roads and slums, and beyond my inward brokenness. For a catalyst to a life surrendered among the poor and the broken who show me how to love and be loved.
We are all on journeys, and even when we can't see the reason for the brokenness that surounds us, we can trust the One who holds each and every broken heart in His hands. We can choose to enjoy each step.
