Not Invisible

 
"Our bread seems small but when it's broken it will feed
A multitude of thousands, hungry and in need
If we want to live
Our life is something we must give"
 - Cast Your Bread, by Cool Hand Luke


At the mission training at International Teams, I've become increasingly excited about their 2020 vision: 50 communities where no one is invisible and everyone has access to food, freedom, and forgiveness. I love this. Think of mission workers going into a marginalized place and not just building a school or church, not just giving out food or Bibles, but working alongside people to help them have a better life in every way possible. Caring for the widows and orphans, feeding the poor, spreading the gospel: all of God's commandments, everything Jesus did, and therefore having eyes to see everyone and every need, as Jesus did.

I recently finished reading 'Love Does' by Bob Goff. One of the chapters is titled 'Two Bunk John". It tells of a guy who helped start a school in Uganda for children rescued from slavery: children who were forced to be soldiers or prostitutes. Horrible, atrocious things. Well this guy, John, noticed that a couple of the children were having to walk miles and miles to attend the school. So, he wanted to give them a place to sleep. The answer at first was no: a situation like that could start with two kids and snowball to who knew how many kids and complications. But John was determined. He pleaded on behalf of the kids, just to be given two bunks, that was all, until the answer was, "Alright John, just two bunks."
Just as predicted, the situation did snowball - thankfully so. The school now houses over 200 children and has some of the highest achievers in the country. The kids kept coming and needing, but the complications didn't. Everyone was provided for, bit by bit, because not one child coming to the school was invisible.

What if everyone lived like that in everyday life? What if no one's needs were invisible to us, and everyone helped out their neighbors, friends, and strangers in need?

There's a story I heard once about two tables. Each table was laden with food, but the only utensils available were these gigantic spoons as long as their arms and very heavy. At one table, each person seated was becoming increasingly frustrated and hungry, because the spoons were too large to manage. They weren't able to eat anything, and kept knocking into their neighbors with the ridiculous spoons. At the other table however, everyone was eating and conversing happily. That's because at that table, everyone was taking the spoons, looking to the person across from them, and feeding each other.

I want to live in a way in which no one is invisible. It's so easy to get wrapped up in my own problems and feelings. It's so easy to think that I should just focus on one thing because I'm afraid that doing more would make things too complicated. What if 'two bunk John' had done that? It's so easy to only see what's right in front of me and grow frustrated when I can't eat from my giant-sized spoon, when maybe what I should be doing is looking around me to see that everyone has similar needs so hey, let's work together. "Love your neighbor as yourself" is so much easier in theory than in practice. But worth it? Yes, oh yes indeed.

I'm so excited to see the ITeams 2020 Vision unfold. Food, freedom, and forgiveness. Things the body and soul crave. I'm praying for them, and for me, and for this world to have eyes like Jesus to see each need. No one invisible.


For more on the 2020 Vision:
http://www.iteams.us/