Wake up o Sleeper!

Ronnie and I have experienced so much in recent weeks while travelling through parts of Vietnam and Thailand that we are probably capable of boring you to death very quickly!! For my first communication in a while, allow me tell you one story and then see where it takes me.

During our first week we were based in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Our guide took us on a tour of the city and at one point we arrived at the War Museum, recollecting the conflict during the 1960’s and 70’s. The Vietnam War has always been an interest of mine, mainly because I was of an age at that time where it was purely the luck of the lottery that my number did not come out for service during the days of conscription. Indeed I know several of my peers who did serve in Vietnam, one of whom did not return.

A common sight in our travels was that of beggars and unfortunately you had to steel yourself to push past them because there are so many needy and sad sights. As we were moving through the grounds of the museum I was aware of someone closing in on me; but typical John, I was focused on where I was going and not taking much notice. It took my lovely wife to pull me up as I pressed forward and point out that it seemed this heavily scarred man wanted to shake my hand.

So I stopped and it was then that I took real notice. Yes, clearly this man did want to shake hands; the only problem was that he didn’t have any hands. Indeed, what was left of his arms ended just before where his elbows should have been. Thankfully and with hopefully very little hesitation I took a hold of his right arm and greeted him and allowed him to share his story in halting English. As a young man he had accidentally triggered a land mine that blew away his hands and arms and disfigured his face. Now he spent his time wandering around the museum selling a variety of trinkets and telling his story to anyone who will take the time to listen.

That day early in our journey has stayed with me and will probably stay with me forever. A couple of things struck me. Firstly, but for fate or whatever you put it down to, I could have been this man’s enemy. I could have put that mine in place. We took hundreds of pictures on our holiday but you will find very few of this museum. Some of the images we found too hard and had to turn away from; such was the horror – on both sides!

The other thing that I had to consider was just how easily I can force unpleasant truths onto the periphery of life. Our trip was great for a whole bunch of reasons but a major learning curve was to discover what it is like to be among the marginalised. We were very much foreigners, through appearance, language and culture, yet enjoyed so much through the grace, care and patience of others.

The time away has been very fruitful in reaffirming my ministry. I believe very deeply in the church but also recognise that we have been asleep for way too long and at times almost totally unaware of what is going on right under our noses. I commit myself once again to being a part of a faith community that is willing to risk living the way of Jesus in our local places, whatever that might look like.

Paul Mercurio plays the part of a brilliant young dancer named Scott in that great film Strictly Ballroom. Scott is intensely frustrated by the old rules of the ballroom dancing competitions and yearns to dance his own steps. In one highly charged scene Scott screams out ‘What we dance is crap!’ It was an Aussie film, but in pure Hollywood it of course ends with Scott and his partner dancing their own steps.

I may not be as young as I was but I am frustrated and tired of dancing to someone else’s steps. I am seeking to be even more aware of those on our edges and am keen to find out just what steps they might be dancing.

Cheers - John