For May 6th:

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desires of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

Several years ago, I went on a mission trip to Cairo, Egypt to a place appropriately called “Garbage City.”  It was an unforgettable place where God’s goodness and love was a visible reality set against a background of despair.

This “City” on the outskirts of Cairo is an actual garbage dump where people live and survive by what is found in the piles of rubble that can be salvaged and sold.  The garbage filled the streets and the stench was overwhelming.  As we walked through the city we saw barefooted children covered in layers of dirt and grim sifting through the trash. Our guide took us to a fenced-in area where children were laughing and playing.  After entering, we were shown around and we noticed a woman who was covered from head to toe wearing all white.  We were told that this was Mama Maggie who ran this facility. This center was a safe haven where children could play, learn about Jesus, and receive medical care.  Mama Maggie was kneeling beside a long white tub attached to an outside wall.  As she rolled her sleeves up, she turned on a faucet and grabbed a bar of soap.  A little boy who appeared nervous sat in a chair beside her with his bare feet in the tub.  Mama Maggie began to gently wash the boy’s tiny, dirt-smothered feet with soap and water.  It was as if she was slowly peeling off layers of dirt that were as old as he was.  Gradually, a smile appeared on the little boy’s face as he was overcome with gratitude.  I will never forget that powerful sight.  Mama Maggie was like Jesus washing His disciples’ feet.  This moment was angelic and sacred.  I was immediately struck by God’s divine beauty, his goodness, and our hope.  God showed us that he was still there in the midst of this horrible poverty.  It was a snapshot into the powerful story of Jesus and His remarkable love for us. 

Being in an ugly place in the world or in an ugly situation in our lives does not mean that God’s beauty is absent; it may simply mean that during those times his beauty is elusive and hidden. But, when God’s beauty is discovered, it gleams like the radiance of a smile on a small boys face that is being shown the love of Jesus.

Caroline D’Andrea