One morning Preston's mother dropped him off. He clung to her as I had to peel him off. Afterwards as the kids were playing Preston wailed on another kid. I looked at him with confusion. Normally I'd speak sternly and tell him to take a break but something in me decided to handle this situation differently. I scooped him up and in my arms I asked him
"What's wrong Preston?"
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
-Jesus
"What's wrong Preston?"
Seconds went by as he stared off refusing eye contact. Then it happened...
His face scrunched up really tight, his mouth opened in the shape of a boomerang and tears began to run down his cheeks.
"I want mommy" came pouring out of his tiny open mouth.
I starting thinking about us adults and our brokenness. Us adults and our wounds.
I knew Preston wasn't the type to hit, he isn't a "bad kid" So what drove him to hit? He missed his mother? How does that make sense? How could missing your mom be expressed in the form of violence and anger?
I started wondering about all the violent and angry adults not just in my life but on the planet. I wonder if we proverbially picked them up and held them in our arms and asked "what's wrong" the reaction would be?
I started thinking about the toughest homeless person I've met and how unbelievably fragile they really are emotionally. I began to think about the kids in the juvenile correctional facility I use to visit. How they would talk about never having visitors things like that. I am reminded of the bloods and crips how underneath the violence and anger is a desire for family and loyalty.
Can the sin really be held against them? Can violence be charged against my brothers and sisters who are really a house of cards on the inside? If God sees the heart then I wonder how many innocent men God sees in the prison system today.
How many people act out of their wounds their brokenness in an unhealthy destructive way?
How many of them instead of getting a stern talk and taking a break (from society) really need a safe place to heal?
How many of them just need scooped up in the arms of a loving safe being and asked "what's wrong?"
-Jesus
Maybe that's why Jesus spent his time with the "bad kids" maybe they aren't "bad" at all. Maybe they are hurting. Maybe they need rest. Maybe they need to come to a humble and gentle heart. I wonder what Heaven will look like. I wonder who will be there, I think it'll be shockingly beautiful.
Sigur Rós: Varúð
Sigur Rós: Varúð