Guest Blogger – Nick Edwards (Stories of Humanity)
Why is it that the burdens and stories of humanity always seem to move the very heart of man?
At the moment on our local radio network they are conducting the annual B105 Christmas Appeal. This appeal is targeted towards raising much needed money for the Royal Children’s Hospital and has been running for many years now.
One thing that really gets me every time (especially as its backed by the Coldplay song ‘Fix You’) is when they tell the stories of young children and families whose lives have been devastatingly affected by some illness or injury that has caused them to need the help of the doctors, nurses and teams of specialists at the hospital. Some have never left since being born, others spend more time there than anywhere else … to them this place is their home.
This morning as I was driving into work I listened once again to the story of a young boy whose life has been affected by illness and the amazing work that the hospital is doing, I found myself sitting silently intently listening to his story and being completely moved by the struggle that he faces. I found myself at a place where I wanted to do all in my powers to help, to find away to make it better for this young child. Why is this? I have never met him, I have never been part of this life or even experienced the struggles that he faces. Yet, his story made me stop and think.
So back to my original question, from disaster victims across the world, to the homeless that make their home on our streets, to a young life here faced with a life-threatening illness in Brisbane, why is it that we can be so moved by the stories of humanity and struggles of those we have never met? Maybe it’s because God is moved by the very same stories of humanity. Right throughout the bible we hear of how Jesus was moved with compassion and then acted upon that compassion and did something about it – he healed the sick, fed the hungry, and gave comfort to those who were hurting. I think this is the picture that God wants us to take note of – the ability to see beyond our own circumstances and then choose an act of compassion.
As we head into this weekend and our annual Tri Nations Appeal, will you be moved with compassion by the projects that we are partnering with inChina and Lesotho? Will you be willing to act on that compassion and join together to do something to change the lives of those you have not met yet each individual with their own unique story?
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
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.
Justice and Compassion
Recently the way I thought about a particular issue was really challenged by Gary Haugen. I listened to him speak about the difference between justice and compassion. Was there a difference I thought?
Gary Haugen is President and CEO of International Justice Mission which is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.
Haugen explained the parable of the Good Samaritan in a way that I had never thought of. He indicated that the care provided for the victim of crime was wonderful and very compassionate. Yet, what if there was justice to the point whereby the robbers who committed the crime were not able to operate because of fear of the consequences wouldn’t that be better?
This is the essential difference between justice and compassion – I had never thought of it in this way.
You see, compassion is great, but it is essentially after the event – justice prevents the event from taking place at all.
It was at this point that I realized that if justice is only based on a fear of the consequences it will never totally eradicate crime, abuse or exploitation. However if values are the essence of justice then it means that if one can implant values into the heart and soul of people then justice would flow from those values.
Well it is a noble thought – but it did get me thinking!
