beWARM

She smiled as I greeted her, and our eyes met. Hers, ablaze with light and joy, connected deeply with mine.

In that moment, time stood still.

I felt as if I could see her soul, the purest presence of God within.

An unexpected outpouring of tears arrived, expressing feelings from the depths of my heart as I so fully received her  loving gaze.

We hugged, filled with warmth and affection.  No words were necessary.

Her name was Erica;  her mother  brought her to our MMI eye project in Leticia, Colombia.  She was 22, and mentally and physically handicapped since age 7, after an illness robbed her of her previous faculties.

Her command of language had been gradually improving during recent years. She squealed with delight when I gave her a doll, and excitedly announced, “Barbie!” as she hugged her newfound friend.

I waited with her while her mother left to get new glasses in another area of the clinic. We named favorite foods, parts of our bodies, and colors. She thought it was hilarious that Barbie was not wearing underwear; we laughed heartily more than a few times about that.

And we never tired of hugging.

Initially, my heart ached to think of what Erica must have been like in her early years.  As I continued to experience  her  fresh and pure innocence, I soon realized that hers is a life of contentment.

Her outlook is cheerful, and her joy infectious.

Erica’s eyes were fine. Unfortunately, there was no way for us to help her with her other problems.

I think of her, happily going about the day, oblivious to any worries or “what-ifs”.  Such a clear and unfettered view of life is a true gift.

This brief encounter with this beautiful child of God stirred my emotions; it took a long while to refocus on the work at hand. I thanked God for this divine appointment.

He strung my heart together with Erica’s for a brief, intense, unforgettable moment. She is part of me now.

I felt God within her, His love flowing, effervescent.

My hope is that I will continue to recognize Him, in everyday encounters.  Perhaps, all that is needed for this to happen is improved vision…

God…in constant focus.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’ ~Genesis16:13

The cloak of silence that envelops our home upon returning from  a two week mission project with a team of 80 allows us to reflect and remember.

Once again, our amazing MMI team in Leticia, Colombia was able to give glasses to thousands of people and bring sight to hundreds who were blind from cataracts – all while showing them the love of God through their words and actions.

There are always special moments unique to each project:

The grandmother, blind from cataracts for 28 years, who rejoiced at finally seeing her granddaughter (yes, age 28!) when her patches were removed after surgery.

The young people who had surgery for strabismus (crossed eyes), streaming with tears when they saw their newly straightened eyes in the mirror.

We celebrated the opening of an MMI permanent center in Leticia – a joint project with Clinica Leticia, which will give greater access to medical care to the people in the Amazon region.

While we were busy with the work we had come to do, a cloud of concern hovered over us.  Our medical and surgical supplies, so carefully documented and expeditiously shipped well ahead of our arrival, were being held in Customs, for no apparent reason.

Each day brought renewed hope that the supplies were to be put on “the next plane” from Bogota.  As the project went on, our prayers became more fervent – but each subsequent day brought the addition of another layer of doubt that they would ever appear.

Meanwhile, the project proceeded at full tilt , bolstered by the supplies that were left from last year’s project (thank God!), and the 2500 pairs of glasses that were released from Customs last year, after we left the country.

We witnessed the wonders of healing, improved visions, and changed hearts.  Team members shared their love for the Lord with the patients, and with each other.

As we worked,  God  was busy behind the scenes. I felt as if we witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, for each time we were in danger of running out of a crucial piece of equipment ( intra-ocular lenses, eye drops for post-cataract treatments, sterilizing solution, etc.), we were somehow able to obtain more so we could continue to work.

The nurses in the OR found a way to make the most effective eye drapes out of minimal material; the clinic where they operated replenished our dwindling supply of gauze pads –  and tablecloths from the Dollar Store, brought by one of the nurses “just in case”, became aprons for the surgeons.

As we set our sights on what we didn’t have, God quietly filled in the blank spaces…and  5,258 patients were served.

My heart overflows at the wonder of His providence – against all odds, God used His power to help us serve as many people as possible, minus the supplies that had not arrived.

It is so refreshing to know that our access to God is direct, without having to worry about regulations, or the whims of an intermediary.

And…there is nothing that would keep God from giving us what we need…just when we need it.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~Psalm 121:1-2

P.S.  Our supplies finally did arrive…on the last day!  (Thank you, Lord, in advance for providing our supplies for next year’s project!)

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After hearing about the concept of choosing one word to focus on for the year, this one has remained uppermost in my mind:

  RECEIVE         

As I reflected on this word, and how it might serve as a guiding light as well as a challenge, these thoughts arrived –  and this is my prayer:

...that I will receive what God wants me to know, with an open mind and heart

…that I will receive each day and its happenings with gratitude – as a gift from Him

…that I will fully receive others, making an effort to see into their hearts as well as hear their words

For me, this receiving naturally evolves into reflection.  The awarenesses and blessings that God gives deserve contemplation, and a spirit of thankfulness. Quiet time spent with the Lord is welcomed joyfully by Him.

Openly receiving others in the spirit of Christ gives us the ability to reflect His love to them,  as He has asked us to do.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.          ~Philippians 4:9

I am excited at the prospect of seeing how God will use this word throughout the year!

So…have you chosen your Word yet?

And, if you have, we would love for you to share.

Thanks again to Julie Voorhees for graciously sharing her idea with us. (see previous post)  In a recent email, she wrote:

Reflection…Resolution…Anticipation…Hope…

Any of these words may occupy your thoughts on the cusp of a brand new year.

Have you ever thought about choosing one word that would serve as your focus – and your challenge – for the entire year?

I never did, either, until I became acquainted with Julie Voorhees, who has conceived and initiated this practice for the past 5 years.  I think this idea has great potential in giving each of us a specific focal point for the year – and one that will direct our minds and hearts toward God.

So, dear readers, as this year comes to a close, I share Julie’s words with you, and hope that you will consider adopting your own word for 2013. I have an idea of what mine will be; I will share that soon…

Happy New Year…and Happy Choosing!

From Julie:

A new year means one new word. This is my fifth year of choosing just one word that will be my focus—and my challenge—for the year. My reflection of past words is much more uplifting than my reflection in the mirror lately. Though face and skin can weaken with accumulated years, my heart seems to gain vibrancy and resolve as each new word unfolds throughout the year. The mirror reveals a progression of age, but my words…they reveal a progression of the soul.

In my eagerness to select my first word five years ago, my first word was more of a romanticized goal. Embolden…even the word sounded captivating and melodic. I recall several decisions that year where I forged ahead to be emboldened, rather than allowing God’s plan for me. It is not unusual for one word to stretch beyond its definition. My embolden also included several lessons in humility. 

My subsequent words have revealed a shift from the word being my idea to realizing that God has an idea for me. Already I have noticed that God’s plan for me has been to move me away from that place of needing to keep myself protected behind walls and from needing to ‘fix’ others. My words have opened wide the door to receive God’s grace and then to extend grace to others. 

The one word challenge is very different from making resolutions to achieve or setting goals to be met. A focus word is simply an invitation for God to work out His unique plan for you. This one word serves as a reference point for the next 12 months. Without obsessing about the word or His plan, you simply allow the word to creatively surface. And pretty soon, you naturally begin to notice how God is intimately working in and through your life.  

If you want a year infused with focus, unconditional love and life-changing power of a Master Designer, I challenge you to begin this new year with hope…and with one focus word.  Should choosing a focus word be new to you, here are some helpful suggestions in selecting your unique word for the year:

For more about Julie, visit her blog, Inviting Connections or listen to her interview with Geri Swingle about Word For The Year.

Sometimes, when we least expect it, a chance encounter will etch a memory forever into our hearts. Such was the case this morning.

Today, over 20 families in our community received gifts of food staples and Christmas treats, lovingly shopped for and boxed up by our church family; teachers from a local elementary school identified the families in need.

When volunteering for the one of the delivery teams, I presumed that it would be very touching to see the faces of those receiving the gifts.

I had no idea of the magnitude – or the depth –  the experience would hold.

We came to the end of a quiet street where most of the homes were trailers. This model was blue – and its exterior had weathered many a season.  A covered portal was off to the left side, roof made of corrugated metal. Sides from slatted wooden crates formed a walkway to the front door.

A slightly melted Frosty, carrot nose and all, welcomed us with outstretched twig arms, and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree sat left of the front door, dressed in ornaments.

Wide strands of hanging tinsel danced with holiday joy, and several mylar snowflakes spun along, too.

On the front door, painted in white-wash: “Happy Holidays from our Family to Yours!.

The Mom and Dad  graciously helped us bring in the many boxes, their warm smiles stretching wide.  They invited us in to get the address of our church so that their children could write a thank you.

The walls were filled with photos of their 11 children, ages 6 to 20, happy faces at every turn.  Over the dining table, crepe paper streamers announced a recent birthday celebration.

Much to our surprise, they gave each of us a gift bag filled with holiday cookies, cut out and decorated by little hands. We were deeply touched by this tender expression of their appreciation; there were hugs and tears all around.

As we left, the Mom said that she could not begin to tell us how grateful they were to every member of our church, touching her heart as she spoke.

I am still blinking away the tears as I replay the morning.

This family that has so little clearly has what matters most.

May God’s love dwell in every heart and home this Christmas.