I was blind to the pain and affliction people face everyday. I was blind to the grace and love The father pours on me DAILY. I was blind to the amount that I can do to spread the gospel. I was blind to the amount of power that comes from the Holy Spirit. I was blind. I was blind to the fact that all of these things are also at home in Spring, Texas.
But now I see.
I would compare our first week in chichicastenango, Guatemala to the conversion of Saul to Paul.
Acts 9:8 says Saul opened his eyes and saw nothing. The numbness of day to day life and the busyness we Americans drown in, blinds so many of us. Like scales on our eyes we live to serve ourselves, blind to those the Lord is calling us to love. The same love we take advantage of and claim and raise our hands in church praising him for, but then we leave the church and don’t show that love to others. We don’t share the good news wherever we go. Why not?
We live the “Christian life” but since when was it established that we can’t live boldly, love boldly, and proclaim his name boldly?
Our team came here ready to serve. But the Lord had much more in store than simply that. He has removed the distractions. He has removed the comfort. He has removed the familiarity. He has given us the empowerment to spread his love to everyone we come in contact with. He removed the scales from our eyes, and allowed us to live and love the way he designed us to.
Some mornings we go out and just pray over chichicastenango where we are living. From that has stemmed conversations, tears, and even a couple impromptu dance parties. We talk to people about life, love, and the ultimate giver of both. We pray over people in the streets who are dealing with sickness and loss and tell about the ultimate healer. We speak with Mayan worshippers about the redeeming sacrifice made on their behalf on the cross. We play with kids and show them love and attention they may not be seeing at home and tell them about our heavenly father.
The Lord is working here in chichicastenango. We are here to learn and love in the little things. We have learned how to live our day to day lives pursuing Christ. He is highlighting what distractions we have back at home that take our focus away from Him and relentlessly loving those he calls us to.
In Acts 9:15 the Lord tells people skeptical about Paul’s conversion his plan for Paul’s life. He says Paul is his chosen instrument to carry his name to all people. The beautiful thing about our Lord is he gives us second chances. To turn our lives around and love with no restraint. To return to Him and worship him with our lives.
I’m so thankful for all the Lord has opened my eyes to, and I pray you allow him to do the same.
