Alright, Natalie has finally come out of blog-retirement!!! Yay!! Happy to finally have time to write this thought down that has been running through my brain for weeks...errr....maybe months!
Ok, ladies, let’s be honest. How many times have you been heart-broken? I mean…REALLY broken. The kind of heart-break that makes you collapse onto your bed and sob your little heart out until you finally fall asleep. We’ve probably all been there at some point or another [I know I have]. Usually, it’s over some silly boy that you will forget about in a couple of days….or just as soon as the next boy comes along anyway. [Lather. Rinse. Repeat] J
It’s so easy to become consumed in our “lovelife.” We are constantly searching for “the one” and always scheming, manipulating, and flirting just to gain control of a fleeting occasion with a cute boy. But, we get our hearts broken repeatedly. Is it worth it?? Probably not. No…definitely not. [Will this blog stop you from liking boys….I hope not, but maybe it will change your perspective a little!]
I recently watched a movie based on the true story of Father Damien, who was a Catholic priest in the 19th century that volunteered to go to the Hawaiian Island of Molokai. At that time, the island of Molokai had been sanctioned by the government as a quarantined area for people with leprosy. Once someone was sent to this island, they could never leave. They were forced away from their families and friends and placed on the island to suffer alone until their death. The horrendous and graphic disfigurement and pain that these people suffered is almost unimaginable to someone like me. As I watched this movie I had to resist the urge to shudder in disgust and turn it off so that I could have a peaceful evening. Instead, I watched as this man, a simple man, sacrificed his entire life and well-being in order to minister to these pathetic creatures.
Father Damien was urged repeatedly not to touch ANYONE, and never to eat any food that had not been prepared by his own hands. As you can imagine, the thought of touching a person with missing limbs, oozing sores and a disfigured face is not pleasant to any one of us. Yet, I watched as this gentle man reached out his hand to those that were hurting and dying. He hugged them as they suffered through pain that wracked their bodies, and he held small children as they weakly took their last breath. He made caskets and prepared their frail bodies for burial. He discovered what loving life was really about. It wasn’t his life that he valued or loved, but rather it was “life,” as in humanity. He literally gave his life for those that were wounded, hurting, and alone, all because of love.
Father Damien learned what real heartbreak was all about. He had everyone in his life abandon him. The prime minister actually ordered that he could never leave the island and his friends could not handle the horrific sights so they left him to suffer alone. He suffered along with those that were ridden with disease, until he was also overcome with the disease and finally died.
When was the last time your heart broke at the sight of someone else’s pain or suffering? Do you casually notice a homeless person on the side of the road and pass him by, or do you have tears in your eyes and say a prayer for him? Have you cried yourself to sleep over orphans in another country that have diseases and sicknesses that they will never be cured of? Have you taken the time to hug a widow and tell her that you love her?
Matthew 25: 35-40 says,
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison,
and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
When we take the time to see the hurting around us, we are literally ministering unto Jesus personally. We always say, “Oh, I want to love like Jesus!!” But really, why don’t we just love Jesus? There are opportunities all around us every day. It’s time to stop focusing on our own “lovelife” and just starting loving life.
Working on loving,
Natalie
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