STAYING IN FOCUS

FRIDAY 27 AUGUST
Day 4 in the (Big) Brother House and I have found myself thinking about what I haven’t got. It is all a bit negative but I guess it is normal. No hot water, no knives and forks, no coffee, no chocolate, no marmite, no toast, no thick mattress, no air-conditioning, no cricket on the TV – come to think of it, no TV! But I know that it is all too easy to focus on what I don’t have here when I have already found so much.

There are people here desperate to live their lives with Jesus instead of with drugs and hopelessness. Their praying and worshipping is as important to them as the air they breathe, they are experiencing the power of healing in every moment. I’ve found a lasting and deep joy here that is so much more than having the right things to fill your life with or satisfy a momentary craving. I’ve found people from South Africa, Canada, Philippines and England all serving God here for the long haul who have let go of what is ‘normal’ and are following God’s dream for their lives by living and working here.

I do miss certain things, but they’re not essential to life. After all, I’ve got a 25-metre swimming pool on site, I’m being fed (rice or noodles every meal – but it’s fine?), I’m able to pray with and for these guys and I’m being re-focussed on what God desires and having time to see him with fresh eyes. I have so much more than the things I don’t have. I’m praying that I will keep everything in perspective and in focus.

This morning, W-H, 18 years old, had to go back to court because he has breached his Probation Order several times since being here, escaping over the roof and ‘doing drugs’ again. He may go to prison today or come back here for a last chance. If he comes back he will be welcomed again by the Brothers and the helpers and they will keep loving him, keep praying for him, keep believing in him. Why? Because they believe in Jesus and His power to finish what he has started in W-H’s life. (Late News: W-H was initially going to go back to prison, but having sat in a cell for 6 hours the Judge called him back up to the Court and changed his mind. W-H came back to the Brothers’ House. There was a lot of rejoicing that night!)

Time to get back into focus – although Marmite on toast would be nice tomorrow morning!