Tuesday,
September 26, 2017 (6th in a series)
Better Bougainvillea
Isaiah 55:12-13
Ed Hogg
Over the
past week I have asked myself, “If this is what Haiti looks like now, what must
it have looked like after the 2010 earthquake?” The answer begging for
acceptance is, “Not much different.” There is no apparent infrastructure in and
around the huge steaming municipality that is Port-Au-Prince. Basic amenities
like bathrooms, plumbing and consistent electrical wiring exist in a dark ages
time warp. It is a city of razor wire and rebar, cinder block and barred windows.
Around every corner I expect we will be entering a “nicer” neighborhood. That
district never appears. There is no
apparent sanitation initiative. The only word that appears an appropriate descriptor
is desolation.
Today’s
scripture is speaking to me here this way: Instead
of a prickly thornbush, look for the juniper tree, and instead of briars find
myrtle. Old Testament Profit Isaiah,
ever the eternal optimist, is showing me how to make chicken salad out of, oh
well, I better not go there. You get the drift. Seriously though, you and I
will find what we look for. It has happened that way for our mission team here
in Haiti. In spite of the oppressive heat and spartan surroundings where we set
up our clinics, we experience almighty grace and beauty because of the presence
of the Lord in the humble nature of these remarkable people.
When we have
stopped to catch our breath and look around, in the midst of the ruts and
rubble, there on top of a razor wire covered cinder block wall is a beautiful
bougainvillea bush with vibrant red and white blooms! Surely, we know this
allure is for the Lord’s renown.
Sunday, we worshipped with the locals. The experience was a piece of heaven on Earth. Then we set our clinic up on a second floor overlooking a small valley that held another large open-air house of worship. The land burst into song before us and we were reminded that His Love endures forever!
Abba, may we go out in joy and be led
forth in the peace of your precious Son. Amen.
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