Yesterday was our day off.  I took Noah on a “Daddy Date” to hang out with him one on one.  As we were getting onto one of the mid-sized highways here in Cape Town (The M3 if you must know) we saw 2 ladies with a little boy hitchhiking.  Hitchhiking is just part of life here and so we have made a habit, when we have transportation, to try to include hitchhikers in our lives.

I pulled over to pick up the weary looking threesome who seemed very grateful.  They just wanted to go 3 exits (a couple of miles) down the road so we started driving.  God has blessed me with a very sensitive nose which doesn’t always feel like a blessing!  Before a few seconds passed, the very strong and distinct odor of urine filled our car and my ancient battle with the gag reflex began.  The little boy, Michael, was about 2 years old and smelled like he had wet himself many times and was still wearing the same clothes.

I chose to go ahead and take them all the way to the Catholic church they were aiming for and we said our goodbyes.  They were on the hunt for food and let me know several times that this was their aim.  I couldn’t help but think of the passage in Matthew 25 where Jesus is judging the nations for how they treated His followers during their time on earth.  I don’t know if this family were followers of Jesus, but I do know that many of Jesus’ followers around the world are hungry, thirsty, sick and in prison.

Jesus ends his judgment by saying “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”  I considered the possibility that as I was loving this family (in a very small and insignificant way by most standards) I may have been loving Jesus.  Today, “Jesus” may smell like pee, He may be dirty, annoying and He may be the last person you feel inclined to love.  

I am not suggesting for a second that Jesus Himself is not sinless; only that Jesus lives inside of people like you and me who sometimes smell, sometimes are rude and sometimes don’t seem very Christlike.  I wonder how many times we have passed by “Jesus” sitting beside the road or left him languishing in prison.  Ceci and I work in a community known as “Masiphumelele” to some and “Site 5” to others.

The only running water most have is via community spigots and there is no plumbing that we have seen.  Because of this, entire portions of the township can smell very strongly of human waste which is collected over night and then tossed into the ditch above.  Oddly enough, almost all of the people we know from Masi who we interact with on a regular basis have incredible hygiene and never smell bad at all!  We can hardly imagine how much extra work is involved for them to keep themselves clean compared to how easy it is for you and me.

But when Jesus comes as “the least of these” He doesn’t always come to us smelling good or looking beautiful.  He isn’t always in the places we expect him to be or the places that are “safe.”  Sometimes He hitchhikes, sometimes He smells bad, sometimes He is hungry or in prison or sick and wasting away. Are you open to finding Him there?  I am…..every now and then…

We would love your feedback on this or any other blog.  Maybe a general statement like “more pictures and videos and less text” or “keep ’em coming, this is challenging me” etc etc.  Obviously, we expect a range of responses to the things we post and write.  We are aiming for a nice blend of family pictures and updates along with ministry pictures and updates.  Our lives are fairly integrated here which means we don’t actually live our lives in neat little compartments, but we do understand that those categories can be helpful to describe our lives to those of you whom we love and want to encourage!

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