This Is An Emergency

Today I arrived at work and greeted a colleague. We smiled and exchanged the normal "How was your weekend?" that has come to be the acceptable Monday-morning small-talk. However, he broke the unwritten rule of acceptable small-talk, by being abnormally honest and saying that he hasn't been doing too well, and has been going through a difficult time. I could see that he was bursting to get something off his chest, but even when I inquired as to what the matter is, he smiled his big, toothy grin and shrugged it all off with a mumble about 'family matters'.

My heart just ached for him, and I wished I could reach into his soul and touch it and make it all better... kind-of an emotional overreaction for Monday-morning small-talk, right? Yeah, that's what I thought too. 

But I've been putting some thought into it. A fellow human being is hurting. Someone I see almost every day. Someone who smiles at me every time. Even if our relationship is predominantly business, can I really bring myself to blatantly not care? Isn't it my responsibility as a human being to care, on some level? If not, wouldn't I simply be inhumane?

A fire is lighting in my spirit, slowly igniting over the last few months, and if I must be honest: it scares me. I can no longer deny that I have a passion for the broken. The scary thing about having a passion for broken people, is that there will always be broken people, which might make it what we call a 'losing battle'. But if you help just one person, have you really lost the battle? For that one person, it is an immense victory!

I was driving home this afternoon - my car now being a regular place of contemplation for me - and my iPod played a beautiful song that cut straight to my innermost being. Eerily, the song is an echo of this morning's experience with my colleague:

Tears of The Saints - by Leeland

The song describes a great deal of sadness, and one line in particular stands out: This is an Emergency. It is so true. This world is in a state of emergency, and it is our responsibility as humanity to care for one another. There will always be poverty. There will always be sickness and cruelty. But this is no reason for complacency - we are called to lead the broken home. 

So here I am, coming to terms with what God has laid on my heart, and wondering what to do with it. The way I'm feeling right now, I could easily throw caution to the wind and join the ministry full-time, but maybe once I figure it out for real, I will share it with you. 

For now, fellow inhabitants of this planet, please look after eachother. Be humane. Take the time to care. Allow the heart of God to pump in your chest. You will never see the world the same. 

Rant of the Day: Sipho the Street-Corner Sign-Holder

Every morning on my way to work, I pass a gentleman who stands in the road with a sign. The same man, the same street corner, the same sign. As per the sign, which is his only way of presenting his Curriculum Vitae to the world, his name is Sipho. He has experience washing cars, and is looking for work. Sipho is a friendly chap, with bright, nearly-shining eyes, and a big smile of straight white teeth. Basically, as far as street-corner sign-holders go, he is not altogether unpleasant to drive past.

This morning, as usual, Sipho was there, waving and smiling at the passing traffic, sign in hand. Just before I drove past him, someone behind me slowed down and hooted for his attention.

Sipho appears to be about 40 years old, but at that moment his face lit up, and he almost looked like a child, presented with a gift. He did this strange little dance-run towards the car that had hooted at him – such enthusiasm could not be matched! The car had slowed to a near stop – I was so thrilled for Sipho – and then as he reached the vehicle, they accelerated and drove away, leaving Sipho stranded in mid-dance.

Perhaps I’m in a sensitive frame of mind today, but my heart sank to my feet, and I cried for him. I can only begin to imagine the disappointment that must have washed over him, and I wanted to throttle whoever was in that car; I want to maim their cruel existences into nothing. How could anyone wish to crush someone’s spirit in such a brutal act of callousness?

I don’t understand some people in this world. It’s a beautiful Friday morning, why start the day with such unkindness? Why set out to hurt people that have done no harm to you? What is it that makes you such a bitter and twisted person, that your only means of feeling any better is to squash the people around you?

I pity you, you miserable creature. I can not even call you a human being, because there is nothing humane about you.