:: greatness is a life well-lived ::

there's something beautiful about filthy kids

The day was sunny and bright, but dark thunderclouds loomed in the distance. She knew now was the time for a walk round the neighborhood, if there was to be any being out to enjoy the day. It was a contemplative walk, trying to figure out "the meaning of life" and how to make good decisions and all that jazz. Ahead, three children played football in their yard, and across the street three other children raked leaves and/or jumped in them. Friendly in nature and with an love for children, she paused to smile and make small talk.

After introductions that included the ages (to the half year) of each child, she found herself with rake in hand, helping somewhat, but mostly playing with the two younger ones, covering them with the leaves...giggles and shrieks of happiness could be heard from under the leaf piles, and a wide smile spread across the leaf-raker's face, lost in the enjoyment of childlike playfulness.

A pile across the yard beckoned the children, and it soon became a contest to race to the pile and jump it. The 3-1/2 year old little girl's legs weren't fast enough, or the leaf pile was a fearful looming mass to that small child, and the neighborhood quickly knew she wanted to be picked up.

The newfound friend turned to calm the cries of this little girl, and heard "I want a piggyback."

Time froze. She saw the dirt-covered face of this neighbor girl, the knotty, leaf-plastered dark hair, but mostly, the wet outfit the little girl was wearing, the outfit in which she obviously had not bothered to stop her playing and go inside to the restroom, the outfit that now was wet and dirty...and this little girl was asking to get on the back of one so clean and fresh.

It was in this decisive moment that the love of Christ won out and, though it seemed that time froze, it was only a moment's pause, and took hardly a split second to decide the course of action. That beautiful little girl stood there with hungry eyes that broke into a pristine selfish heart and brought the mess of what it means to love.

She bent down so that precious child could be loved, tangibly and hysterically (for that is what the love of Christ is, madness), and together, they bounded toward the leaf pile, laughing and running and holding on for dear life...and, beating her bigger brothers who still couldn't run as fast as the two together.

The story doesn't end there, for by loving on the kids, the parents got involved, and soon invited their neighbor into their home and talked the minutes away, connecting on things of life and home, (and nothing of church or religion or even Jesus) all in the course of natural conversation.

And it was the Gospel, lived out in the flesh, love incarnate, building bridges with neighbors on the wildest things (some might even think questionable), simply loving them where they're at. And it's the start of something deeply spiritual.

And it was something in those beautiful, filthy children that resonated with something deep in me. Mission. Community. Love. Jesus. Real Life. All of Life. Gospel Ministry. I tell you, nothing else I have done or thought about or hoped for in many months has given such fulfillment and joy.

posted by FaithChristine @ 12:19