“Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in
time of trouble.” (Psalm 41:1)
Sitting at my desk the other day and looking through my images of
India, memories began flooding through my mind.
In 2008 "Slumdog Millionaire" came on the big screen and
ultimately swept the Oscars, winning eight awards including best picture.
I had an opportunity to view the movie on a British Airways flight to Hyderabad
in 2009, and was amazed at both the cruelty and beauty of the poverty and the
people portrayed in the movie. Two of the children in the movie are
actually from a slum in Mumbai. They were on the stage at the Oscars
among all the glitter, lights, fame, and fortune. But soon, they went back
home, back to the slum and to life, the life they knew before the cameras and
fame.
As the movie ended, I felt a sense of helplessness. How can
you effectively impact a nation with over a billion people and so much
suffering? What do you say to a child who has tasted wealth and fame, but
not known the security of a permanent home? Are we just fooling ourselves
into thinking we can really make a difference?
Throughout the whole movie, the star pursues his true love, searching for her, never forgetting her, and never giving up. At the end of the movie, they embrace and he kisses the scar on her face that represents all the pain, suffering, and evil that has happened to her. And in that kiss it is all washed away. The pain, the suffering, the years of separation; it's a beautiful picture of what God has done for us. He never quits pursuing us, He never loses hope, and He kisses our scars and heals the pain that dwells within.
And that is what we can do also. It's too overpowering to think about trying to bring change to India as a whole. The pain is overwhelming. But even though I may not be able to bring massive change, I can be used by God to pursue a few people. To not give up, to remember, to pray; to see God kiss their scars and bring life again.
I have no idea what I would say to those children returning home to poverty. I would want them to know that wealth and fame aren't the only way to a better life. That joy and contentment can be found in the slum, too. But who am I to say these things when I live so well?
Maybe the best thing would be to just bend down and kiss their scars.
Throughout the whole movie, the star pursues his true love, searching for her, never forgetting her, and never giving up. At the end of the movie, they embrace and he kisses the scar on her face that represents all the pain, suffering, and evil that has happened to her. And in that kiss it is all washed away. The pain, the suffering, the years of separation; it's a beautiful picture of what God has done for us. He never quits pursuing us, He never loses hope, and He kisses our scars and heals the pain that dwells within.
And that is what we can do also. It's too overpowering to think about trying to bring change to India as a whole. The pain is overwhelming. But even though I may not be able to bring massive change, I can be used by God to pursue a few people. To not give up, to remember, to pray; to see God kiss their scars and bring life again.
I have no idea what I would say to those children returning home to poverty. I would want them to know that wealth and fame aren't the only way to a better life. That joy and contentment can be found in the slum, too. But who am I to say these things when I live so well?
Maybe the best thing would be to just bend down and kiss their scars.
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