Welcome to the fallout
While driving to the leper colony last week, I listened to Switchfoot’s “Dare You to Move.” In my mind I was merely selecting an album I hadn’t listened to in a while, but it turned into much more than that.
Welcome to resistance
We came to a stop in traffic. A beggar — no, a precious and beloved woman came to the window. She was obviously begging. Her red sari and crooked teeth didn’t take me by surprise. Her leathered skin and foggy eyes weren’t unusual sights. Her persistence in knocking at our window wasn’t out of the ordinary.
The tension is here
But the words that hit my ears were ripping me to shreds.
The tension is here
I tried unsuccessfully to avoid making eye contact with windows of pain. This is her life.
Between who you are and who you could be
So unnerving…and I think she and I are different? One begs, another gives. But both die. Neither of us chose to be born. Who breathes without need of Christ?
Between how it is and how it should be
This isn’t fair. This isn’t fair. This isn’t fair.
I have never felt so responsible for poverty: I looked at myself with my headphones through the window to a woman with empty hands and an emptier stomach. Dichotomy, anyone? And what about her soul — is that empty too?
I dare you to move
Traffic continued as usual.
I dare you to move
I didn’t. I couldn’t.
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
What just happened? It had to be about more than food.
I dare you to move
But what will become of her if I ignore her need? And even if I can give to her now, she will be hungry again in a few hours, if that. She needs hope beyond all of this. She needs a Savior. So do I. Constantly.
I dare you to move – like today never happened
My heart won’t cease to be raw towards every beggar I see. But as painful and uncomfortable as that is, it is given by the Lord, and I am thankful for it.
“What would Jesus do?” What did He do? He healed the sick and raised the dead. He drove out demons and played with children. But in His human form, He only interacted personally with a very small percentage of humanity. As far as we know, He passed by people that He didn’t look at, He didn’t get to touch everyone, and there was a lot more that He “could have” done. Or so it would seem…
But His Kingdom is not of this world.
He only did what His Father told Him to do.
And so I say, I can do nothing for these beautiful people. I cannot even do anything for myself. I can only receive and be transformed by His power into an instrument of His grace.
And His grace towards me glorifies Himself because it leaves no room for me to boast.
This is not to say that I am lowly, wretched, and worthless.
Apart from Him I can do nothing. But that is my joy! Did you hear that? The pressure is off for me to be strong enough, wise enough, brave enough, or loving enough. When I am weak, I am strong because His grace is sufficient.
He wired us to depend on Him, to live abundantly only when drinking from the Source of Life — and that dependence is our rest, Church!
We have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. The life we live in the Body we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. ~ Galatians 2:20
Praying for you all with love and brokenness and joy,
Brittany
Trust in Him at all times, O people, pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. ~ Psalm 62:8
P.S. Happy early birthday, Peej!
Thank you Brittany for writing that. It’s with sincere love and prayers that you are lifted up before our Father every day. I’m so happy to share this world with you and know that your team will do even greater things for His Kingdom.
😀 I’ll be sure to Fed Ex you some curry cup-cakes from my birthday party….because you all really can’t get enough curry as it is…
—
Thanks Katie for posting these blogs, and excellent photography. Give my regards to the team!
-PJ
Woah!
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!
Thank you so much for Sharing Brit … !!!
You are by far absolutely Amazing in HIS GRACE!!
we ALL are! So many good points YOU make as well as Switchfoot~
BUT GLORY BE TO GOD!
May HIS Love and Mercy continue to fall upon you and your team<3
Love Always~
~MOM~
P.S. Today Never Happened!!
Thank YOU!
Brittany, you have really grown into a beautiful, caring, loving, compassionate young woman. Reading your blog brings tears to my eyes. I can feel your pain in what you are seeing and witnessing to. You want to save the world, I totally understand that. You have a wonderful gift and I am glad that you are being able to do God’s will and share that gift with others. I love you, and I am very proud of you. Thank you for sharing with us your thoughts and your experiences.
Love,
Aunt Lisa
oh beautiful brittany. thank you for sharing those precious words with us. I’m praying that the Father lavishes His love on you and the people there. I’m praying for you love. continue to let G-d pour out through you. I’m proud of you. I love you!
in constant prayer,
Alove
Brit thanks for the post, very poetic and full of conflict like our life on this earth.
I thought of this passage as I read your blog
2 cor 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
I love you,
Uncle Rick
my face is wet and I have goosebumps. You are the wisest human I know. I love you so much…I adore you. I am so excited about what He is doing in and with your heart! He is so faithful, Beat!! I am so excited to learn from you when you get back. To the extent that you want to share, I want to listen. I am in such awe of the God in you. He is answering every one of my prayers for you and your team. I do not intend to puff you up, but goodness I admire you! you encourage me to worship Him with such a full heart…because in your life I see His omnipotence and faithfulness. I’m in wonder. words are insufficient. I will just lie here.
I read this post the day it was published, and it’s stuck with me since… Incredibly, I was even thinking of it a few days ago, and this song happened to come on while I was pondering! Thanks for sharing!