The Lord longs to be gracious to you.
He rises to show you compassion.
The Lord is a God of justice,
Blessed are all who wait on Him.
Sometimes when I read this verse I insert my name in the "you's." Also, I insert people groups around the world who I have worked with and seem hopeless. This reminds me that God love for them is so powerful and that His heart breaks for the injustice that they are facing.
The past three years, Taylor has set up a Cardboard Community for Social Justice Week. This is the second year that I have participated. Last year, my friend Ellen and I decided to live outside in the cardboard box community. We had a lot of academic things that week, so this was really the only part that we were involved in. It was eye opening but a lot of fun. This week was Social Justice Week, and it has been one my lightest weeks so far. So, my friend Britt and I decided that we would build a cardboard home together. I was so excited to be more involved and to get a better glimpse of what breaks my God's heart.
I have to admit, I had no idea what a challenge this would be this year. The cardboard this year was flimsy and smaller, making house building extremely difficult. So, after 3 and a half hours, Britt and I had a home that looked like it could fall over at a moment's notice. Monday night we got into our house and it rained literally the entire night. I woke up around 3am with water pouring on my face and my pillow soaking wet. I couldn't sleep the rest of the night and was simply miserable. I remember looking at the time and thinking that I still had several hours till I could leave. Later I began to think about the whole leaving thing. Homeless people don't have the option to go back to a warm apartment if their box or street sleeping is just too much on them. I knew that in a few days this would be all over, and I would be back in my comfy bed. Homeless people don't experience this. I started to think about how hopeless they must be each day waking up to this reality.
The second night in our box was just as bad except we were so tired that we slept a little better. It had rained the entire day and again through the entire night. Our box was half soaking wet, so we managed to sleep in a ball tucked at the bottom. I woke up thinking that I don't know if I could do a third night. However, Britt and I lifted each other's spirits and we ventured out last night for our final night. When we got to our box, it was totally soaked and all of the walls were collapsing. We almost went back to our houses and gave up. But, then Britt had the idea of sleeping under the overhang of one of our academic buildings. We grabbed some sleeping bags from friends since ours were too wet. I can't remember two seconds after I put my head down. I woke up a few times being cold, but I slept pretty well.
To be honest, I am really thankful that tonight I will be in my bed. I don' t think that I will ever forget this week. It wasn't fun, it was miserable. I think that is what I needed though to get a more realistic view of the injustice occurring all over America and the world.
It is exciting to me that so many Taylor students are aware of this and want to make a difference. I pray that God continues to make us uncomfortable and uses our hands and feet to bring justice to His precious children.
This week we have been singing "Hosanna" by Hillsong. This is one of my favorite songs, and I think that it was perfect for this week.
I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes
Yeeeah
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing
[Chorus]
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees
[Chorus]
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to Eternity
[Chorus]
No comments:
Post a Comment