So I have decided to return to blogging after a seven month absence. For all those who read this blog faithfully and wondered where I went, I apologize. I have no good answer why I stopped, I just did. My recent trip to Haiti was what "shook" me back to a place where I feel like I have something to say.
Last week I joined a group of people from all over the United States for a week in Port-Au-Prince with the mission organization AIM (Adventures in Mission). I have been on many mission trips over the years (maybe with you) to Mexico and inner city and rural areas in the USA but this one was different in many ways. It not only shocked me but inspired me in new ways.
It would be easy to spend this blog post talking about the devastation that I saw in Haiti, there was plenty of it even six months after the quake. I could talk about the poverty, the deep poverty I saw, poverty unlike I have seen and smelt before. It is tangible and in your face in Haiti. Those were two very poignant realities in your vision each moment in Haiti.
But what I want to talk about is DANCING. Sound strange? Let me explain. One of the days on our trip we stopped by an orphanage that housed over 100 orphans, it is called Sons of God orphanage. These are children who not only survived a quake, survive poverty daily but also survive without parents. It would be hard to imagine people with harder lives than these children. Children living in a impoverished, devastated city and doing it all without parental or family support.
Our team went there to simply see the ministry and watch another team that was there. Well it is impossible to just watch! Our team jumped in by holding kids, taking pictures with them, coloring with them and whatever else.
For some reason I found myself sitting back and just watching, watching with wonder all that was going on around me. One of the things I saw was JOY. There were smiles, laughter and play here in the midst of what could be a place filled with sorrow.
Then a holy moment arrived.
The other team there started a circle game where they sing a song, clap and one person in the middle pulls another into the circle to dance. The picture above is one taken during this event. I was sitting on a bench outside the circle watching this scene of merriment. Old dancing with young, white with black, orphans with missionaries and Americans with Haitians, It was a beautiful joyful scene.
It was a picture of God's Kingdom. My father who was on the trip even danced! (Now that is a miracle and God's sense of humor!)
Then it hit me, a beautiful thought, and it brought tears to my eyes. The thought was: "The Kingdom of God is where orphans dance."
Wherever the Kingdom of God is, there is DANCING, even amongst orphans, those with no family and 1,000 reasons to live in despair can find hope and a reason to dance. When Kingdom people enter into places of despair the response is DANCING! The Kingdom of God brings new life and renews all things and the response is dancing, laughter and joy.
The same is true for all of us who know Christ. The scripture assures us that we were once orphans, lost, alone and fatherless until He came and claimed us as his own. He adopted us. He gave us a home. He called our name. Gave us a new name, His name.
If you know that truth, when is the last time it caused you to DANCE?
3 things...
1. So good to have you back blogging.
2. It was an honor and joy to have you and your dad on the trip. John and Chuck were awesome too. But I can't lie, as a guy who doesn't have a dad close to me, it was something that made me hope that one day my son will go on a missions trip with me.
3. Here's a video of Kristen dancing at the orphanage. For other readers, it may help to have a visual. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bZOUJINyVg
Posted by: adam mclane | July 29, 2010 at 09:31 PM
Glad to read your thoughts again. I figured Haiti would have a powerful impact on you. To roughly paraphrase Sly Stone's words at Woodstock- worrying about how you appear to others can interfere with you having a good time. So don't worry about what others think,just get up and join the dance!
Posted by: Spencer Jackson | July 31, 2010 at 09:32 PM