I used to not know what I believed. I went to church because
it was a ritual. I went to talk to my friends or to just go. I wasn’t going for
God. I believed that if I memorized bible verses I was a “good Christian”. I
believed that those verses that I was memorizing would eventually apply to my
life. I believed that if I volunteered
in as much things as possible people would like me: I believed I would then be
noticed.
I was
wrong.
A few years
ago I realized I don’t believe that.
I have seen
homeless people lying on the sidewalk in Chicago
and I have seen dying people lying on hospital beds in Swaziland. I’ve
gone home to homes in Swaziland
praying for people and holding Vacation Bible Schools at an orphanage. I’ve passed
out bibles to people; I’ve given people food. Through the places that I have
served people at I have come to believe that the most important thing that people
need is love and compassion. We are called by God in Luke 6:36 to “be
compassionate, just as [our] Father is compassionate” to us. Whenever I gave
someone clothes in Swaziland
or passed out a bible to someone in downtown Chicago I could tell that they felt blessed. But
I believe that when I gave someone a hug, or wept with a mother whose child was
dying, or prayed alongside a sick woman, or kissed a small orphan who had never
been given affection before that was such a better way to demonstrate God’s
love to someone. What every human wants is to feel loved. A love that doesn’t
care if you are African or homeless or impoverish. People crave it.
I believe
in this: I believe in love towards all people.
I saw this
type of love firsthand in Swaziland.
I encountered a handicapped girl during a prayer walk. She was hunched over and
naked. She had bugs around her face and she was drooling. I asked the family
what was wrong with this girl none of them knew. They didn’t seem to care. I
pulled this girl towards me and began to stroke her short hair. I rubbed her
back and kissed her on the head. And this young girl smiled. I could tell that
it was a smile she had never shown to anyone before. She may not have ever
received a kiss on the head, nor had her back rubbed by anyone before. I could
have given this girl food, or clothes but I believe that showing her love through
compassion and human touch went so much further then a piece of bread or a pair
of shoes.
It isn’t
about how much you attend church or how many bible verses you can recite off
the top of your head. I don’t believe it is about that. Life is about love. When
we love people we show a true compassion. When we love, are hearts connect with
someone else’s.
I believe
in love.
