Deeper into the Dust

By Lucy B., on mission in Peru

I had a realization the other day: I’ve been straining to meet God where He is instead of letting Him reach me where I am. Maybe it was obvious all along, but the only true manner to connect with God is to nuzzle my nose deeper into the dust of the earth and assume the role of beggar: begging God to give me the grace to face temptation, to see Him in the ordinary moments of life, to rescue me from my pitiful state of humanity.

“Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.” – Henri Nouwen

Just like how the Lord meets me where I’m at, I have the opportunity to become simple like my friends in the barrio (neighborhood). In the little sacrifices I make here to live life like they do, I can have compassion for them. When I struggle to wake up to pray morning prayer at 7am every day, I can have compassion for Adalina who woke up at 4am to set up her vendor’s tent. When I infrequently eat beef, I can have compassion for Fabi who hasn’t eaten a good meal in two days. When it takes 3 hours in public transport to make a trip that should have taken only one, I can have compassion for Blanca who travels 2 hours to and from the outskirts of the city to Lima every day to work. Getting the opportunity to make these sacrifices purifies me to be able to see the miracles that happen amidst the suffering.