Dear Saints and Aints.
Shalom!
My fingers hover over the keyboard while my mind desperately searches for a word that better expresses what I want to say than the word staring at me from the monitor. I sigh, “Maybe it will come to me later” I think, while rubbing my eyes weary from looking at the computer screen. “Spending almost an hour to find the word you think is right almost seems to be too much of an effort”. But, as somebody said, “That which is written without effort is read without pleasure.” Furthermore, “I wish you had been there to see it,” is hardly something a writer should have to say. Through his writing the readers should have been there and - seen.
The search for the word still in my mind my eyes drift towards the playground, now devoid of kids, basking in the sun. Unmindful of the 45° Celsius, two dust devils chase each other across the ground; then rearing up in a threatening gesture, they collide and crumble into a dust cloud which when settled is hardly a shovel full. I can almost hear them laugh like some happy little kids; the problem is that much of that shovel full now resides inside my computer. The smell of dust permeates my small work area; I taste it and pray that whatever the kids left behind has long since blown away; my nose itches, I sneeze; that’s where some of the rest of the dust went...
While the sand devils frolic in the scorching wind; the trees and everything green groan under its brutal onslaught and this is but the beginning of summer that mercilessly and relentlessly will progress. At the end much of that which is now green and beautiful– has perished. Many a promising sapling will not live to fulfill its potential to become a beautiful tree in whose shade other creatures find rest.
I cannot help but think beyond the effects the summer has on that which grows in field and forest to the effect is has on our kids, who, with the exception of some college students, have left for their summer holidays. They should be back by the end of June. I worry about the slum kids whom the devil, aided by the environment at their homes he created, wants to lure back into his kingdom with a politician’s promise, where they will exist – alive yet dead. Perished! Satan’s minions are better at advertizing their wares than the servants of Christ and temptation - is all in the advertizing, isn’t it?
Bapu has been busy with a project – a rescue mission - which I did not know about; he is contacting former students and getting them linked up with a church or pastor in their neighborhood. Quite a challenge! The other day two young men, former students, one owns a small business and the other is a policeman, came along with the pastor of a nearby church. Will something come of it? Bapu shrugs, “We can only make the effort; can only provide the opportunity; what they do with it…?”
Vijay, a friend who has his own church planting organization told me the following. “A rag picker, who normally does not enter people’s houses, came to his house. When he saw a picture of Jesus or a Bible verse he exclaimed, “I was at Prem Sewa for some years.” Vijay asked him to come to church the next Sunday. Next Sunday Vijay found the young man, who is physically challenged by polio, dressed like the rag picker he is, sitting outside the church hall. Upon inquiring why he didn’t come in he replied, “Sahib, I feel so guilty for the life I live and for the many years I have not attended church.””
Some friends asked my opinion about the movie “Slumdog Millionaire. After thirty-seven years in India, reading the papers, watching the news on TV, interacting with my kids, the film Slumdog presents real life situations - apart from the millionaire part. The film reveals nothing that most people living in India do not know though but few, unless they live there, would venture into these places. Whether the film needed to be screened is not up to me to say. But it is refreshingly more realistic than most of the “fare” that Bollywood, our film industry, offers its viewers. Whatever, many of our kids come from such a background.
“Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live; it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.”
- Oscar Wilde
Though in agreement with the above quote, bringing about a change in the behavior of our kids, though without becoming guilty of the charge of imposing our cultural values; our way of life on them, is certainly imperative. The Slumdog might have become a millionaire but still remain a Slumdog – only a better dressed one. For most people still a miracle, for me –a tragedy.
However, a lasting change in behavior without a change in attitude or to use one of Paul’s phrases, a renewed mind could hardly be called a change. The discovery and for many Christians the rediscovery of the Mercies of God - the miracle of Salvation is the only incentive powerful enough to initiate such a transformation. To bring this about is the major challenge Bapu and I face – starting with ourselves…
Another challenge and no mean one, is providing adequate facilities for the kids. One such need is a new clinic as the old one invites more diseases than cures. So we took the plunge and started building one and keep working on it as the funds come in. When completed, it will have three stories and a total area of 15000 plus sq. ft. We are planning for the future and it will reduce our medical bills substantially. As an aside, the clinic is being built by one of our former students. The canteen for the kids is completed. In keeping with our philosophy to provide the best within our means – it looks great and will offer the kids some healthy snacks etc. On the back of it, facing the playground, Bapu got the picture of Jesus and the little children painted. Bapu’s next dream is to get another floor built on top of the dining hall which then will be used as dorm till we have the funds for a new dorm.
The college boys that are staying here for the summer, a warden and I are leveling the second playground, a huge job, plus laying on small gardens and working on a host of other things. There is an incredible joy in making things beautiful and in being coworkers with God in bringing order out of chaos; bringing to life that which is barren both in the compound and - in the hearts of our kids.
Like Moses of old I stand on my Pisgah and God permits me to see, though dimly, some fruit of my labor; the seeds that for years lay dormant springing to life; the changed lives of kids; churches and ministries coming up through them ... And yet I feel so terribly small, so terrible inadequate.
I wonder if Moses wept overlooking the beautiful inheritance his people would possess. I do! Even if I am but permitted a glimpse of all that can be.
Though still in good health my thoughts are ever on the future. Isaiah offers me comfort. He wrote: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted.” (Isaiah 6:1) The true King stood revealed; The King who actually had guided the affairs of His people through Uzziah. My comfort is this: When I have followed Uzziah - under Bapu, the place will continue as before - guided and controlled by the True King - of which Bapu and I are but vassals.
For your support and prayer through these difficult times – our thanks & the love of our kids!
St. Frank |
