Jesus has been opening my eyes to the poverty and injustice that surrounds me like never before. I cannot escape these two looming giants here in Cape Town. But, it's not just here...they will be wreaking havoc wherever I go in the world.
It makes me question...are our eyes OPEN? Do we see what Christ sees...or do we go about ours days, too busy to notice? When we take time to see, there is often a cost...are we prepared to ask the question 'what do I do'? Are we prepared to respond in obedience to what Christ may ask of us? Micah 6:8 states, “...and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.” I have learned while living here that responding can be as simple as making eye contact, or as hard as sacrificial giving such as time, money or possessions. I do not have the answers for this...as I am on a journey and a process with the Lord as he is simply opening up my eyes in a new way. Here is a story of something I experienced last month:
“One afternoon I was taking a walk near my house to the local shopping center. As I walked along I ate an apple. Half way during my walk I tossed my apple core into a dustbin along the sidewalk. Once finishing my errands I headed back home nearly an hour later. As I walked along I could see a woman up ahead of me who was digging inside a rubbish bin; only as I got closer did it occur to me that it was the very bin that I had used shortly before. The woman upon seeing me approach, quickly grabbed something and began walking past me. In a matter of seconds I realized that what she had pulled out was my discarded apple core! A bit in shock, I turned and asked the Lord if I should respond or give her some money for food, but by this point she was far behind me. I walked home stunned, confused and tender as I thought about the moment I had just witnessed. Why God did you allow me to see that? I know that it was no coincidence that I happened to pass by an hour later the very second she found my apple core. My heart broke and something began to happened in that moment and in the days ahead. A new compassion was building up inside of me...a heart for those that are suffering in this city, and a desire to see afresh what often gets missed.”
I think back to that memory and wonder where that woman is...does she have food tonight, does she have a place to sleep, does she have any friends? With sadness in my heart, I wish I could go back to that moment...but it has passed. However it wasn't wasted, it was a part of a deep process that Jesus is doing in my heart...and I need to trust that he is holding that woman wherever she is.
I was once told by a friend that it can often be a dangerous prayer to ask “Lord open my eyes!”...but at this point in my life I am ready to see so much more...and to journey with Jesus as he leads me to respond!
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