Of Sun, Sand and Sweat

“Blessed be your name, when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s all as it should be, blessed be Your name.” Blessed Be Your Name – Tree63

At the end of each day when I am finally able to pull off my bright yellow “Croc” shoes, I usually can’t decide if there is more dirt on my feet or in my lungs. I always what is outside is most of it, while fearing the dust 10,000 feet kick up in the hours of the day is settling somewhere in my respiratory system. Our activity for the day included one “big” (1500) distribution (which turned out to be BIGGER and take longer). Then our one “small” distribution (300) turned out to be four spread out across the Ho area, with over 300 each. We load up, unload, set up, stir up (hearts that is), line up, mark up, pass out (the boxes) and start over back down the next road.

In the movie “Blood Diamond”, there is an exchange between two of the characters resulting in a confrontation. One assured the other he was leaving Africa; the other laughed and said “the red dirt of Africa is in your blood, you will never leave.” The movie’s protagonist dies clutching the dirt, it slips through his fingers mingling with the blood pouring from his fatal wound.

As I walk, work , sweat and breathe among the Africans – the scripted words echo in my soul. Africa DOES get in your blood; I suppose one way or the other. But Africa should be in our blood, one way or the other.

We are reminded often in the Word we are ONE body in Christ. “If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, AND in the healing!” (1 Cor 12:26) Paul, explains the concept of one body just before he tells us the “better way” of love (see 1 Corinthians 13).

As we travel from location to location, down the market places, through the humanity, the poverty, the need, we see a world our “fallen” or “broken” Christian catch phrases can’t begin to describe. This is not “Africa” hurting, or suffering, or dying. This is YOU and ME, members of His body, dying, suffering and hurting for failing our brothers and sisters in Africa.

“If one part flourishes, every other part enters into exuberance. You are Christ’s body. That’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your part mean ANYTHING!" 1 Corinthians 12:27