sniff sniff

In News by Carla

While hiking with a special Ausie friend I’ve made here in Central Asia a unique situation arose. Along with this surprise was a new response. Here’s what happened:
Very hot. This is the only way to describe the weather. Sure I could go on about the humidity or the intensity of the sun but saying it is, “very hot,” pretty much communicates all that is needed. 35C.
Lately I’m saying a lot of goodbyes. Amy and I intentionally asked ourselves, “How do we finish this season strong/well/with excellence?” We both agreed that taking the necessary time to say goodbye to the people that we have been sharing life with was part of what that looked like.
We were talking about life, God, boys, future, our bodies. Everything, anything. As we muddled through philosophy (always deeper meaning BEHIND things…) and theology (when did hell happen chronologically anyway…?) we had begun walking along the path Bernie runs along. She asked if I wanted to see something special?
My answer was, “duh! Of course!” and off we went to the edge of a cliff. 
Green turf stopped and rock cliff drop off gave way to the bluest water I have ever seen. As we got nearer the edge I saw a series of stairs unfolding before me!  Steep and gorgeous man made steps both winding around and leading to the waters edge.
My lovely friend and the steps we climbed up and down.
While Bernie and I were passionately talking, sharing and asking questions of one another we heard an unnatural sound. Have you ever watched a scary movie where there is a mechanical laugh? Usually by the “killer” and it sounds detached from reason and morality? Well, that’s what I heard.
Step. Step. Step. We were getting closer to this bizarre noise. Two teenage boys began stumbling towards us from the mouth of a small cave. They had been sniffing glue for a high. We could smell the strength of the solvent they were using.
Ugh. I didn’t want to deal with this. I must be frank: I resented these two and their demonic and idiotic sounding laughter. They were interrupting the conversation I was sharing with Bernie. Sometimes NOT engaging with men is the best non-response you can muster. So, I ignored them. Bernie and I continued to the waters edge. There were plenty of people around.
After the sun had just began to put itself to sleep and the colors got long, we began our ascent up the precarious stairway. We were mindful of the area the sniffers were hanging out and quickly climbed the stairs through that section to the top. However, they decided to follow us.
We were back in the park and walking on the green grass. The distance between us and them was rapidly decreasing and as they got closer their laughter became even more frenzied. Bernie and I stopped short at about the same time and turned to face them. 
Refusing to be chased. Bernie said, “ENOUGH.” And that was sufficient to stop them and send them back towards their cave.
I was angry then and I’m still a bit angry now. At the situation BEHIND the situation. The “WHY?”!  That is the question rumbling around my mind like an empty stomach. There is pain in it, frustration and readiness for answers.
Don’t they know how special they are? Don’t they know that God is absolutely crazy about them? Don’t they know that they have a unique path and specific dreams and goals that only THEY will be able to fulfill? And their future is being spent as they kill brain cells and laugh in dark, debris littered caves. Why are they choosing this for themselves?
Where is love?
How do we love better?
Who is actively loving them right now?
I was reading in John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Their lives seem like they are being stolen from them. But, the bizarre part is they have been deceived into handing their very lives over in exchange for numbness. I reflect as I ponder the times that I have done just that? Handed my future over in exchange for numbness before knowing who Jesus was.  I think its time to say enough to the things that intimidate. Not only do I want life from and with Jesus AND I want it to the full! BUT I also want to show other people how much they matter too.

To do that means wrestling with the “whys”—are people doing what they are doing? The action before the response. Why is _______ happening? Why are teenagers sniffing glue? And? Being creative—partnering with God on creative solutions! What is happening in the generation? In the culture? What is a relevant response? Could a solution be an afterschool arts program? With… rock music, fashion design, acting club? Or maybe it’s a big brother/big sister type organization with positive mentors spending time with younger children and telling the youth how much they DO MATTER. I don’t know the answers. Yet. But my heart says, “enough.” 
Behind a waterfall, a photo from inside a cave.