Wednesday, July 2, 2014

They Just Keep Coming

My wife, LaWanda, and I are just wrapping up a two week trip to the Philippines where we conducted a Leadership Enrichment for the leadership team and superintendents of the Philippine General Conference of the Free Methodist Church. LaWanda also led a Women's Ministries International Convergence for several hundred women's leaders from all over the country. It's been a great few days to be back with so many of our wonderful friends in this strategic Asian nation.

This morning very early I was drinking coffee in the hotel lobby looking out at one of the busy Manila streets. The streets here are crowded with taxis, jeepneys, tricycles, motor bikes, buses, cars, but most of all, pedestrians.  I watched for over two hours as the mass of humanity just kept coming- surging forward. Never stopping, ever marching, they continued in the streets, on the sidewalks, anywhere they could find footing enough to stand. They darted in and out of jeepneys or tricycles, constantly moving forward. 

My mind was mesmerized by the expressions on their faces. Mostly young, but all Asian ethnicities.  Professionals and domestic workers alike. Some middle class and a few wealthy, but mostly a mass of poor human beings desperately trying to exist or seeking the next meal, or trying to climb the ladder to the next level by going to school or, in some instances, being trafficked by the worldwide net of human slave traders. 

And they just kept coming.  They never stopped. Later, we hailed a taxi and immediately swam right out in this sea of humanity with horns blaring, four lanes of traffic turned into eight and every passenger living dangerously close to the edge. It was then I remembered a conversation I had with a denominational superintendent who oversees Metro Manila. In a frustrated and deeply concerned tone, she said, "I'm still searching for the key to reach this city.  We desperately need more workers to do the job.  Sometimes I can't sleep at night thinking about this mass of humanity. 

Manila is a huge city of 18 million people. But it is only one of the  major cities of the world. As Jesus looked at cities and villages, He said, "Pray The Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers." Superintendent Pol Guazon and I prayed that laborers would be called into this vast urban landscape of helpless and hopeless humans. Jesus is 
still looking for laborers. Moments ago I checked down on the street again.  They're still coming. They just keep coming. 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

If I Had My Life to Live Over Again

Years  ago I read the testimony of an anonymous friar in a Nebraska monastery. His words didn't make much impact on me then, but at this point in my life they make great sense and I'm trying to take them to heart. This is not what you would expect in a "religious testimony"... Maybe that's why I appreciate it so much. 

"If I had my life to live over again,
I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips. I would be crazier. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. 

I would do more walking and looking. 
I would eat more ice cream and less beans. 
I would have more actual troubles, and fewer imaginary ones. 

You see, I'm one of those people who lives sensibly hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I've been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute. 

If I had it to do over again I would go places, do things and travel lighter than I have. 

If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the Spring and stay that way later in the Fall .
I would play hookey more.

I wouldn't make such good grades, except by accident. 

I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."

It's fairly safe to say, this old gentleman had his fill of stress. He realized that to break its spell one has to break the mold of a rat-race life-style. May his tribe increase.