People of Sacrifice
I have just spent three incredible days with the best group of people – the staff of ICC who work in the Centres for abandoned disabled children at Changsha and Hengyang. From all different walks of life, diverse nationalities, varied backgrounds and cultures they have come to work with the abandoned children of China.
It was a precious time for me as I shared with them but more than that I was a part of their lives for that period of time – walked with them, exercised with them, ate with them and just hung out with them. I drank pineapple ice drink with corn cornels and jelly babies on top with them but that is another story. They each had a different story as to how they came to China but their call was the same as was their compassion for the children.
As I looked across the room on so many occasions I saw a group of people who really had sacrificed to do what they were doing. They believed that caring for the children was in essence their calling as a follower of Christ. They were the hands and feet of Jesus – the ‘least’ of the world were the ones they are called to help.
For them, there is a reluctant to speak of the sacrifices – leaving family and home life, friends and relatives. Yet from my outsiders’ point of view there are sacrifices – way beyond anything I have ever done. To live in a foreign culture and all that involves is a huge sacrifice.
Whenever I visit China it puts my life in perceptive. Some of the issues I face and call them challenges are not really of anything significant when I think of them through the experience of China.
As I farewelled these wonderful people once again I have left some of my heart in China – I was emotional as I waved goodbye to them as I passed through security at the airport.
I thought about the ‘first being last and the last being first’ and realized afresh that this verse applies to them – I am content to be last and deeply satisfied that they will be first.
Once again these people have touched my heart and I am so thankful that they have.
China Experience
China is always noisy – people everywhere – cars, bikes, trucks – everywhere noise. Yet there is something about it that I really love. I am attracted to it and for those who know me I shouldn’t be.
The opening of the new International China Concern Community Outreach Project building was no exception when it came to noise. A crowded room full of people – mobile phones going off and being answered during the opening itself – children playing and talking and as children do their volume ever increasing to counter everyone else’s noise.
Yet I was about to witness a wonderful moment. This project was being run by Sam Hills – an incredible young woman who is the ultimate quiet achiever. This new centre was to provide support and training for parents with children with disabilities. By doing this it is hoped that parents will not abandon their disabled child. For China it is an absolute first.
There was a strict protocol of speakers at the opening – Government officials and ICC representatives and of course Sam. She was brilliant as she spoke and told of the heart of the project and you could see from the parent’s reaction that she had gained their trust and their heart.
Then the moment arrived. A mother spoke – no notes but right from the heart. She explained that she had two disabled daughters – I now know she is also a single mum. The woman started to say that when she first heard of what Sam was doing she was sceptical – she trusted no one. You could see the love that this mum had for her daughters – you could also see the pain. Yet because of her great need she started to come to Sam for help. Then she something I will never forget. These are my words but in essence she said that at first there was no trust but after seeing the heart of Sam Hills and what she doing for the parents and the children – she started to trust and now there is more than trust “Sam Hills is my friend”.
I had witnessed a powerful moment – love in action. Practical love towards two disabled girls had melted the heart of a sceptical protective and loving mother.
Even as I type this blog I am emotional – love breaking down barriers. Is it no wonder that St Francis of Assisi was once alleged to have said, ‘When you preach try to say nothing!’ Sam Hills is doing an outstanding job in challenging circumstances – I admire her, honour her and thank her for again reminding me of the power of love.
China
Tomorrow I leave for China with my good friend Rex Hills – we have been there together twice now although Rex has travelled there many other times.
One of the things I will be doing is speaking at a retreat for International China Concern staff in Changsha for three days then sharing with the staff at a special service arranged for them next Sunday.
I will find it very challenging to do this as these people from different parts of the world have given up much to relocate to China to serve with ICC. They work in the Centres at Changsha and Hengyang for abandoned disabled children and from seeing the work they do first hand it is they that should be teaching me not the other way around.
After that we are off to Kunming to spend some time with Ross and Donna Winchester.
I am not sure if I will be able to blog from China but I will give it a serious go if I am able.
The big thing for me is to share my heart in a humble and authentic way and let God go before me.
So hopefully i will share some of my adventures with you by blog – in the meantime pray for Rex and I over the next couple of weeks.
Balance
The look of the Physiotherapist’s face really did say it all – ‘You did what!’ she said and I noticed that at the same time her grip on my ankle somewhat tightened. I could tell what she was thinking – here is a seemingly intelligent individual – how on earth did he do this and not think there was going to be no consequences.
Well – let’s go back a little and I will make a full confession for the cause of my Physio’s disbelief. I was at the Physio for an ankle injury – strained tendons and ligaments which in the first diagnosis could have occurred through overuse and not enough rest periods between training runs. In other words I may have overdone the training a tad. Me overdo anything – highly doubtful I thought although it appeared that no one shared this view with me.
Then the Physio asked one more question – ‘Is there anything else that you could have been doing to cause the soreness?’ Her question prompted by the fact that the injury was in one ankle not both which is the norm for these injuries.
There was a moment where I hesitated but just enough for the Physio to sense I hadn’t quite told the full story. Then I confessed. A couple of months ago I had two orthotic’s put into my running shoes to help balance my running style. However I found that one of them really hurt so instead of taking them both out I just removed the one. Therefore for the past couple of months during the increased running schedule I had been doing I was running with one orthotic in and one out.
‘You did what! – do you realize that you have been running totally unbalanced for two months – it’s a wonder you have been able to run at all let alone the injury could have been so much more severe.’ Yes, the look did really say it all. It appears that I require two orthotics – one for each shoe. Novel concept really!
As I lay back listening to the lecture I was receiving and quite rightly I must say I thought about balance. How many of us seem to get our lives out of balance and then think there will be no consequence? I thought how many times have I got work, marriage, home, family, leisure, faith out of balance or body, soul and spirit so unbalanced that some aspect of my life has been injured?
I took the orthotic out and I will put another back in – in other words it does appear that only I can dictate the balance in my life! I am the one responsible!
In the meantime the injury due to the imbalance is now preventing me from doing what I really love to do! That’s what imbalance does I suppose.
Day of Honour
Last weekend our church held it’s annual Day of Honour – it is the ninth year for this celebration. For the uninitiated it is a service held at our church where as a church local, state and federal politicians together with all emergency service workers – police, fire, ambulance and SES are honoured.
Each individual is presented with a gift and the spouses or partners of the politicians are also given gifts as well.
They are brought to the front of the church and then after I speak to them and honour them publicly the church stands and applauds. There are some moist eyes when this takes place I tell you.
This morning I had a coffee with one of the politicians who came last Sunday and last night at a function I also was able to speak to another politician who was also there. Their reaction to the day still amazes me – they hold this day as one of the most important in their calendar. They tell me the emergency services people regard it in a similar light.
Both spoke of the encouragement of the day and their feelings of being made special. They know nothing is being asked of them – they come and rarely does anyone lobby them – they feel safe to be themselves. Appreciation and being thanked is the only motive of the church – after nine years the motive of Honour without wanting anything in return is deeply appreciated.
I personally love the concept of honouring – to add value to someone, to give esteem to, to encourage greatly and to thank and appreciate. Yet why is it that it is still such rare commodity?
In speaking to people I think we don’t honour or indeed encourage as much as we should because in Christendom we have a distorted view of humility. To place someone on the slightest pedestal, to speak highly of them, to edify by speaking of their achievements, to actively build them up is to somehow give that person a ‘big head and that’s dangerous’. That viewpoint is just sad – not to mention wrong as well!
Honouring and encouraging go hand in hand – it is the essence of the Spirit of God – it is God in action. It is above all else absolutely essential to life.
So what to do – why not be totally radical and TODAY send an encouragement to someone – write a note, send an E-mail or dare I say – encourage and honour someone to their face! You may never know what difference at that very moment it may make to someone’s life.
Finished
I joined a training group for runners last week. Now that does not qualify me as a runner but my good friend Matt Reis suggested I come and join the group that he is in and the training would improve certain elements of my running.
So last Wednesday – 5.45 pm I turned up – knew no one except Matt and he hadn’t arrived yet so I stood around very nervously. You know that feeling – something new – know nobody – don’t know if you are even welcome! One thing I did pick up was the group consisted of serious runners – I mean very good serious runners.
Finally one of the group came over to me – then another – then Matt arrived. I felt safe! We all talked – then one of them said to me – ‘Remember you want to be there at the end so pace yourself for all the training – don’t go out too fast!’
We started – a 2 km run to warm up – followed by some warm up drills. Already I saw I was in elite company but there was a group of us at the rear and I happily joined them. Then the fun really started. The coach issued the first training drill – ‘4 four hundred metre runs – sprint the last 200!’ Fifteen second breaks in between.
My legs didn’t know what hit them. Was this all we did for the night – remember pace yourself.
Now 4 eight hundred metre runs – sprint the last two hundred – fifteen seconds in between. Surely I misheard that! Off I went – the pain was severe – my legs were not aching they were screaming agony – remember pace yourself.
Wow – I survived then I heard the worse thing possible – ‘OK 12 two hundred metre sprints and as fast as you can go the last hundred of each!’ WHAT – no there must be some mistake – aren’t we finished? I took off, the twelve become ten then eight then six – finally the last one – I was finished! I was in serious pain as I jogged the final couple of kilometres warm down. My legs were cramping – my calves screaming in agony – I seriously thought I would never walk again let alone run.
Then one of the runners who greeted me earlier in the night came beside me, ‘You did good mate – well done!’
I have seen many ‘shooting stars’ in ministry and life. Those who were far more talented and gifted than me but somewhere along the journey they stopped running the race. They went too hard, too early – gifting and character became unbalanced. Once again I learnt a lesson for life from running – too start hard and fast looks good but to finish is indeed the name of the game. To start is good to finish is divine. Next Wednesday here I come!
