"As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing.
"What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby-carriage along the sidewalk.
"Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty -- as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City."
"Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?"
"I really do not know," replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron.""
- L. Frank Baum, "The Land of Oz"
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
You don't need me to rehearse the devastation. Haiti is, for all intents and purposes, destroyed.
We have some in our church who have done mission work over the years in Haiti. A nurse who has done medical missions there was recalling large swaths of land void of trees. The poverty is so deep there, they have gone through the vegetation for fuel. The hunger is so desperate there, they have eaten all the birds.
She said there are no songbirds in Haiti, because they've cut down all the trees and eaten all the birds. That is as vivid a picture of the poverty in Haiti as I've heard.
It is materially true, but it is a threat of spiritual truth. Where is the hope in Haiti? How can the trees cry out if there are none? Who will speak into the hopelessness? Who will be the light in the darkness?
The Church will. As she always has. And as she always will. The Church was in Haiti before the earthquake, and the Church will still be there, long after Haiti has dropped off CNN's radar, long after it has conversationally dried up around the international water cooler.
The Church is still in Indonesia, rebuilding after the tsunami. The Church is still in Louisiana and Mississippi, rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. The Church is still in El Salvador after their earthquake. Still in Texas after Hurricane Ike. Still in the furthest reaches of the world.
The Church will be there because the omnipresent God is the one true God and his Son Jesus stands over the earth.
The people of God's missional Church will be the songbirds of Haiti, singing with hearts and hands of love the glory of God into and over that land.
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Comments on "Songbirds in Haiti":
3. Bill
- 01/19/2010 9:28 pm CST
Reminds me of something my favorite Gospel driven preacher quoted at our College and Young Singles department a few weeks ago:
Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth - Colossians 1:5-6
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Has anyone else noticed that the vast majority of English-speakers who were in PAP when the earthquake hit are people who are part of Christian missions or charity organizations?
From Christian orphanages to missionaries to Church teams, most every eyewitness I've heard speak via sat-phone or in person was on the ground to spread the gospel.
If you're interested in some up-close accounts and updates of the activity there, check out my friends' web site:
http://www.benandkatieinhaiti.com
They're a couple who moved to the country on December 28th to be long-term missionaries. Their updates are heart-breaking and yet yield optimism.
In some strange ways, I think this earthquake may have been an answered prayer. As this country rebuilds, I think that Christ will be more a part of its constitution than He has ever been. (I don't mean this in a governmental sense)