So What?

"So what" is an important theological question.

Not long ago, I read articles denouncing/doubting the value of international short term mission trips. One of the (several) criticisms proffered was that very little change results in the lives of those who go.  Been on an international work mission team?  So what?  (Or maybe, so what does your life show because of it?) 

Hmmm, food for thought I said to myself.

This week I was smiling, wondering if Tracy Stewart had been grocery shopping yet with her kids.  After her last trip to Uganda, she said her kids were embarrassed at how she said "hi" to everyone in the grocery store.  I then remembered the story of a young woman (an outcast, a "nobody" at her school) who related later in her life that she would go DAYS where NO ONE spoke to her at her high school.  No one. 

Acknowledging someone by greeting them, looking them in the eye and smiling, affirms them in an important way.

Well, this happened to me as I walked to work, my first day back to work, Thursday morning.  Now, normally when I walk, I sing, or silently (most of the time) pray or recite scripture. Nerdy, I know.  (Don't let anyone tell you walking cannot be a spiritual discipline!)  This particular morning as I was walking, I looked up and saw a young boy walking toward me.  Note to self: cease singing as others approach lest ye be thought insane.  So, as this young man (12??) approached, I turned my attention to him.  I noticed he's only wearing a t-shirt, carrying a very thin sweater.  (For you Austin-ites, it's about 38 degrees in the morning up here.  Mind you, I was decked out in a down coat and gloves.)  As he got closer, it looked as if he might be crying.

"Are you okay?" I asked.  Sobbing, he chokes out, "As...I ...got....to ....the....bus stop......my....bus left."  I asked him if he was walking home.  He nodded yes.  I asked if there was anyone at home when he got there.  No answer. 

I'm thinking...okay, you're walking.  No help.  Furthermore, you, in your mind-numbing jet lag, you left your cell phone at home.  Less than no help.  Bob is in South Bend.  No help.  What to do.

Now about this time, a car is coming to a stop at a stop sign on a side street about 10 feet away.  There is a young woman driving and she has a toddler in a car seat in her economy car back seat.  I wave her down.  She gives me one of those incredulous "me?" gestures and I am nodding and saying at the same time, YES!

She rolls down her window and I ask her if she just dropped a child off at the elementary (primary) school a block away.  Yes she says in an accent (Hispanic?)  I tell her the situation, that this boy has missed his bus and he has no one to get him to school.  Could she drop him at BF?  (I then have to explain that BF is Ben Franklin, the middle school.)  No immediate answer.  I explain that I'm walking to work, and if I had been driving I would do this myself for him, but I can't.  Could she help?  Yes, she could.  She's headed to the high school and goes right by BF.

Boy gets in the back seat, I shout out..."get up a little earlier tomorrow, okay?" and off they go.

Our team devotions this year worked off the concept of "exile" (as found in Jeremiah 29: 1-7.)  One of our centering thoughts dealt with the common good. 

Well, here's an "I wonder."  I wonder if going on an international work mission team inspires us to act a little more proactively/spontaneously to not just promote, but "seal the deal, boy in the car" the common good. 

What say you?