Reading with Danyel

And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.” Mark 10: 41-42

I don’t know much about cars. I never was interested in them. I learned to drive much later in life and I did it with a certain reluctance. However, when the hood of the car starting smoking, I knew that it would be best to stop. I was in a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. I was in search of trout in the one of the many secluded lakes in state of Maine. I never questioned the wisdom of driving around alone in isolated regions until that moment. This occurred during pre-cellphone days. As I was staring helplessly at the fuming hood, I heard a voice. I did not realize a truck had pulled over to the side of the road. It was a woman’s voice. She said that she saw the the smoking car and assumed that I needed some assistance. I was honest. I told her that I was just going through the motion of looking at the hood. I had absolutely no clue what was wrong with the car. She was with a child in her truck and she told me that she could give a ride to her brother’s house which was nearby and he was a mechanic. There wasn’t much of an option for me so I went with her. Everything worked out thanks to her kindness. This was more than fifteen years ago. Maybe the woman doesn’t remember me at all. We never exchanged names or anything like that. Her willingness to stop and help a complete stranger has left a mark in my life. I will never forget her or her brother. They were willing to be servants to a helpless man whom they never met before. Their actions enriched my soul. They reinforced my hope in the goodness of human beings even though I keep hearing the contrary in the news media.

When I was young child, my uncle asked me the indispensable question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Even though I was barely seven, I was ready with a genuine answer. We lived in a tiny apartment without any TV. My only form of entertainment was looking out of the window and watching people go about doing their everyday things. I had a bird’s eye view of what people did and who was having a good time doing it. My answer came from my untainted observations. I told my uncle that I wanted to be a street sweeper or trash pick-up person. There was a silence first followed by boisterous laughter from my parents and uncle. I was quite surprised at their reactions. This is why I still remember the occasion. I laughed with them not knowing what was really funny. When TV came into our home, I understood. I was exposed to what the world considered successful professions. Greatness in this world means being impressive to others. In my childish naïveté, I thought it was something to do happiness and making the world more beautiful. I realized that I was not ambitious enough. I should aim higher than being a road sweeper (maybe I should use the more sophisticated term, sanitation professional). Now that I am older with a better understanding of my faith, I realized that I gave my uncle the right answer. The road sweepers are quiet servants of society. Their presence in our society makes our lives pleasant and beautiful. Imagine a week without someone to pick up trash or clean the roads. Then you will know why they are so important in our lives.

James and John wanted to be great in the Kingdom of God and so did the other disciples. They followed Jesus because they aspired to be like Him. For the first time in their lives, greatness was accessible to them. In their societies, only nobility could imagine being great. All of us can understand their desire. We want to believe that we are made for greatness. We would follow anyone who promises us this. However, the truth is that eventually most of us give up on the endeavor because, frankly speaking, the “greatness” of this world is not accessible to everyone.

The apostles were mad with James and John because they thought that these brothers were trying to steal “greatness” from them. In a way, they were right. The “great things” that this world offers are limited. Not everyone is going to be a doctor, not everyone is going to a successful businessman or the president. Popular wisdom tells that we can be who we desire to be. We are given random examples of successful people; the famous rags to riches stories. However, they hide the fact that many failed even though they were desirous to do great things. There are countless “riches to rags” stories too. The world offers a life of greatness with a high price. It is not one that is based in love. You need to ruthless and even heartless to be great in this world. The greatest leaders in this world are not necessarily compassionate people. They don’t have time to stop and help a helpless stranded man on the side of the road. If they do, it would be in the headlines because it would be such a rare occurrence. As for servants, they are just around us quietly doing their work and making life precious and beautiful to those who come in contact with them.

Jesus said, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. “ Mark 10:43-44

Danyel asked us to buy him a book for his birthday. It was based on a video game. We were a little hesitant at first. Video games, over the years, have become gradually more violent and sexually explicit. He assured us that this one was quite decent. We agreed and we got him the book. However, he hasn’t read a book in his life and he needed our help. He asked if I could read to him. I prepared myself mentally to read something tedious because I find these games to be a dreadful bore. On the other hand, reading with our children is an educational opportunity that I never want to forgo. We sat down and read the book together.

The story was a classical tale of battle between good and evil. The plot was immensely complicated. The central character was a wise old man who had to lay down his life to save the whole of humanity. Throughout our reading, Danyel interrupted us to share and explain the significance of all the symbols. He explained to us that the old man who sacrificed his life never really died. The good that he has done never dies. It always resurrected again and again in another person. At the end of each long chapter, I asked if he wanted to stop or carry on, he smiled and said let’s move on. We talked more about the gospel reading this book then we ever did in all our time together.

I don’t think I have ever read so many chapters out aloud in Portuguese before. I never noticed that reading aloud requires our mouth to exercise different muscles which I never knew existed and they were tired. However, it was worth it. We had a special time with Danyel and he enjoyed his time with us. For the short moment we spent together, life was beautiful and special for the three of us. He served us and we served him. He taught us a special lesson; goodness never dies. In reality, there is nothing new in this statement but hearing it from Danyel made it seem special and new.

Being great in the Kingdom of God is not about being impressive to others. It is being like the road sweepers of my childhood who made the world beautiful and peaceful in their quiet manner. It is showing love to a stranded stranger on a deserted road. It is giving because giving in itself is a beautiful and peaceful thing. The road sweepers, the people from Maine, and even Danyel will never read this post. It is okay. They don’t need to do it. The goodness they have deposited in their simple way in my life will bear fruit. Well, at least, it makes me understand the beauty and value of life.

Being a servant is definitely a great way to live our lives.

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Abundant Life or Comfortable Life?

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.- John 10:10

In my last post I mentioned a family we recently visited. This is the family of Maicon whom the team met in the streets. Maicon was incarcerated briefly in the juvenile detention center which gave him time to reconsider his life choices. Upon his release, Maicon returned to his house in the slums, a tiny shack for family of six with no running water or electricity. There was no bathroom.  Our team members visited Maicon and sensed that he was not going to last long at home. Within a few weeks, Maicon ran away from home and started getting involved with the local drug dealers. To make matters worse, some of the neighbors of Maicon’s family were trying to drive out his family so that they could occupy their space. His father’s life was threatened and he decided to move to another place. The father is hardworking man but he was disabled due to illness. He sold soft drinks in the streets to make ends meet but he did not make enough to rent a place. He sought the local social agencies for assistance. Unfortunately, this family did not meet the qualifications for the social programs for the present moment. The situation was becoming desperate when the drug lords in the neighborhood offered the father a place to squat in an old abandoned house. The father is an honest man and agreed to accept the offer out of desperation but only on the condition that he was not going to be involved in any shape or form with the drug operations. Most drug dealers have a “Robin Hood” complex here and they gave him their word that they would not expect anything in return. In reality, they don’t have to expect anything in return because three of their older children are already involved in the drug culture.

We visited this family in their new home just before Christmas. It was abandoned house that was dark and musty but it had two bedrooms and a bathroom. There was electricity but no running water. However, they could get water easily next door. Unfortunately, the house next to them is where the drug dealers do their business. The remaining children in this family are from ages 7 to 10. The 10 year old is girl. This house is terrible but it was a step up for them. They had privacy. They had a bathroom.

Mary with the Family

Mary with the Family

Abundant life is something greater than possessions. This family in a certain sense might be better off than some wealthy people. They know that they do not have abundant life yet. Many of us are blinded by false securities and hope but we think that we have it all. Most of the crack addicts think that they found everything they want in crack cocaine. Crack cocaine is their escape from reality. For others, materialism and other more accepted drugs are a way of escape.

I realized that our understanding of salvation is incomplete. Salvation cannot mean one thing for me and another things for someone else. This family has something to teach us about the meaning of salvation. They are able to face the harsh reality of life without giving up hope. They have hope. They see their hope materialized in things that we take for granted. We have something to teach them as well. We are both on the quest to discover the meaning of abundant life. I believe that God has brought us together so that we discover its meaning together.

 

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