The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
“Never did I so feel the need of a silent typewriter as at this moment, for every stroke clashes with the marvelous silence of the hills tonight. I am still under the spell of that hush and of that sunset. In all my life I have never seen a sight so beautiful as Lanao tonight…
I suppose there have been equally beautiful scenes since the world was created, but not more beautiful for me. For it adequately reflected the passion of love which I feel toward the Lanao people as I look and pray from the hill. And as I talked and tasted the sweetness of the luscious light, and told God that this was for me the masterpiece of his creation, he told me through my own voice:
“Ah, child, this is but the symbol of beauties, and wonders which I mean to give you when you are willing and ready. I must give them, I will give them, if only you will climb your spiritual hill and open your soul, eyes and look. This is what all life can have if you are willing. I ache with longings which poor little people cannot even suspect, to open up wider and ever wider universes of glory to you all.”
Frank C. Laubach (1884-1970) in Letters By A Modern Mystic (Feedbooks: 2009) letter entitled, “This is what all life can have if you are willing.”
I am awake early. Traveling from Chornomorsk (near Odessa) to Kyiv today. I could say I am glad to get out of here because I heard five explosions last night and then the roar of ambulances. I said a prayer for those impacted but it was hard to sleep.
Now all is silent. With Laubach, I cherish the peace of silence.
But I saw something yesterday. I saw the faces of people who lit up because someone came to visit them. “No one visits us.” They said. “People leave here. No one comes here.” I saw agony behind their words.
I wish everyone reading this could see what I have seen and hear what I heard.
It changes you. When you have seen Jesus in the eyes of the brokenhearted, you want to gaze at nothing else because you have seen the salvation of the Lord. In a way, I don’t want to leave this place.
“It’s your third visit during the war?” People ask. “Are you crazy?” They continue. “We would leave if we could.”
I want you to think about the most unfortunate person in your world and move toward them today. Tell me what happens. Do it if you are willing. Then email me. I think you might be surprised (spoiler alert: you will see Jesus there).