Beauty from Ashes

My friend and I were talking earlier about Haiti. We were talking about something pretty specific, and she used the term "Beauty from Ashes"--to describe the country and the people and just the general way of life there.

Until you've been there, that phrase just sounds like another platitude uttered by white people in a land where beauty is measured by the kind of car you drive, your status in the world, by your perfect smile, perfect hair, and remodeled body. It's not difficult to associate smoke and ashes with Haiti. The smell is pervasive--the plume of smoke fills the air at times in some areas.

But beauty--that's even easier. Beauty in this land is in the scenes that you will miss if you only see the tragedy.

Beauty is in the faces of the children, who are like children everywhere. Who want to play, and sing and laugh and are full of joy and love.

Beauty is in the mothers and fathers who work hard every day all day to provide, yet are limited by their place within the hemisphere. By the decisions of governments that are bigger than theirs have made...by the decisions of politicians and sometimes madmen....

Haiti is full of beauty. It is my hope that the beauty of Jesus Christ will go with our team in the next week, and that we will shine His light and beauty on anyone who is willing to receive Him.