The Shoes of a Servant

All too quickly, our time in Guatemala comes to a close and it is time for us to return home.  But, not quite the same people that we were this time last week.  For we have walked with people his week whose lives we could never have imagined.  We have heard stories of courage and love - of people literally laying down their lives for others.  We have experienced gracious hospitality from desperately poor people and we have been at a loss as to how to say thank you.  We have listened carefully to each other as we have struggled with questions of how we are to continue to live comfortably at home now that we have seen the faces of so much suffering.  And we have asked questions about how we are to live now - how is God calling us to respond and how can we go home and live differently.

I have been challenged by the depth of the questions these young adults have asked and by their willingness to share their struggles.  My heart has been filled as I have watched them care for each other and for the people we have met.  Tonight, Susan and I gave them each a little leather sandal key chain - to remind them that they will need each other as they continue on this journey and that these sandals symbolize the shoes of a servant.  We have experienced many people serving us this week and we have witnessed people serving the least in our world.  We have experienced ourselves what it is to serve the poor and the least and in so doing, we have seen the face of Jesus.  We are called to continue to be servant people following in the way of our servant Jesus.  

My prayer is that each of these amazing young adults will continue to feel God's presence with them even as they listen to and live out God's call on their lives.  The journey has just begun.  Thanks be to God.