Open My Eyes

While in Mozambique, we heard a story from Mama Aida, about how she realized that she was blind spiritually, and so she asked God to open up her eyes. When her eyes were opened, she saw the spiritual poverty in the western church, and now she travels around the western world for 1/3 of the year, even though she would rather just spend time in the garbage dumps and villages in Mozambique.

Praying "Open up my eyes, God" is a dangerous prayer. Because He will open up our eyes to see things that we didn't see before. And once our eyes are opened, we cannot not act upon what we have seen. When we are made aware of needs around us, we have no choice but to act and resolve them, to act right where we are, even if our hearts are crying to be in another location.

Since then, I have been praying for God to open up my eyes. I have asked Him to open up my eyes to the needs around me, here in the US. My eyes have been opened to needs in my own church, from the girl who has a brain injury from an accident a year ago, to the single mom of two preschoolers, there are needs right in front of me, and I know I must act upon them.

My eyes were opened this week, even more. I just found out where the local elementary school is, it is about a mile from my house, and I have lived most of my life right here, I just never knew where it was. And I applied for a job there, and got it. When I went and visited the classroom, I thought, well, maybe it will go terribly and I won't take the job, and still be able to go to Brazil this spring for a few weeks.

The visit went extremely well, and my heart is now breaking for the needs of the kids in the classroom. I will be working with a boy with autism, as well as a few other kids who have special needs in the classroom. My heart is breaking for them, for their hard home lives, and difficulties at school. My eyes have been opened, and I cannot shut them.

I took the job, and have, in turn, given up my desire to go back to Brazil this spring for a few weeks. I realize that I can only go for 1 week, at least, until June, and that I may not get back to Pemba as soon as June. But I know that God has given me the desire to go back to Brazil this year, as well as Pemba, and He will make it happen.

But first, I must act upon the needs right here in my hometown. And not shut my eyes again to the broken and needy in my own neighborhood.