In Our Face
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.”
Last night I was gifted with another glimpse into the Kingdom that has no end. It happened like it almost always does, in an unlikely place: Newark's Penn Station. I was there with a team from the International Prayer: Eastern Gate to encounter Jesus and minister through prayer. Unbeknownst to most passerbyers, Jesus walks the concourses of the station where the homeless take refuge. He is attentive to their cries for help and provides spiritual and physical food through a Holy Spirit orchestrated network of church groups and community organizations.
I was rearranged by God's presence as I watched one teammate gently sharing the Gospel and praying over a struggling brother; one who was forgiven much, loving much.
I was changed as a homeless woman pastor prayed over me that the Lord would send the laborers for the harvest, the most beautiful commissioning I could ever receive. Joy in the midst of suffering bubbled up as we laughed together. Communion occurred as we talked about identifying with Jesus in the midst of being rejected and misunderstood, a full course meal of the Gospel being served for the both of us.
Later a teammate and I found ourselves walking with a bunch of tough looking guys in search of rumored pizza being given out under a nearby bridge to bring back to the station, fear being replaced by overwhelming love and the joy as we stood in line with our brothers.
Around 10pm the police were kicking people out of the station, but I had a chance to briefly talk with a woman named Linda whom I won't soon forget. In her face was distrust and coldness at first, but while looking into her eyes the presence of God encountered us and in a moment her countenance turned into a incandescent, wonder-filled smile as we parted ways still looking at each other, a heart connection formed that words cannot touch.
Thank you Jesus for painting such a clear picture of Your nature. You seek us out. You make a beeline to the dirtiest, smelliest, darkest, most dangerous corners and overwhelm us with Your love. You smear saliva and mud on our eyes and give us back our sight. You get in our face, close enough for us to realize that You aren't going anywhere, and so we understand You don't even see our stains. You remake us with Your gaze: unkempt exteriors and interiors replaced with woven purple robes and clean souls. You allow us the grace to stand in Your presence as one that is perfect, whole, and holy- Your creation. I could gaze all my days, just let me see Your face.