Brotherhood

1 Peter 5:5-10

...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you

I’m not sure how long I was unconscious… 5-10 seconds maybe. All I remember is that I was vomiting over the edge of the fence one moment and dreaming about sleeping in my own bed the next. I think it was then that I remembered that I was in India… that only moments ago I had been standing… conscious.

We had been there to have a fun-day with a handful of orphaned kids (dieing of AIDS) but, within moments of our arrival, I was the one being ministered to by Solomon, the “man with many children”. I was heartbroken, embarrassed and humbled. He just cracked a big white smile and said that this happened to the children all the time… he had lots of experience.

Humility is an interesting thing… hard to produce; it seems to be something you need to “fall” into. Often it is difficult for us to embrace knowingly – to actually set about “clothing” ourselves. When we do, it often feels fake or feigned. I wonder if that is because, often, humility walks so closely with suffering… and suffering is a traveling partner that we are so afraid of in our western world. Yet, when I sat with one of the little ones on my lap… and imagined Solomon fanning them after they had passed out… my heart broke for him… for them. Suffering was not a stranger to these children.

In these pictures are many who I would consider my brother… Wade, my brother in Christ through the last couple of years. Jeff, my ACTUAL brother (in-law) who I have had the joy of serving beside many times. My Dad, both a father and a brother, who has been a great source of encouragement for me as I have pursued God. Solomon, a man whose passion for Christ has produced a compassion for the abandoned children of India… and still had some to spare for a bewildered foreigner/brother in Christ. But perhaps the most humbling and perspective giving brother is the little boy whose sheepish smile said, “yeah, I’ve been there before. You’ll be ok… but you sure look funny on the ground!”

Thank you my little friend.

Lord God, do the impossible today… in this moment… and heal him from the disease that ravishes his body. And may we meet again… in this age or the next. Amen.