 |
| My city at the base of the mountains! |
I love my city here- it's is the most beautiful place I've ever lived! It is at the base of the Rugova Gorge. Such a lovely place to picnic, take a hike, or simply stroll through. However, the past few outings I've had there have been less than peaceful! All thanks to a dog...
I shudder at the thought of even having to describe this gross creature- ugh! The first time I saw it he was lying on the side of the narrow road (tall mountains on either side, not much room = not a good place to be laying!). From a distance I could see that he was mostly bald from mange and the hair he did have was matted and dirty. As he turned his head, I almost lost it! It was a scene out of some horror movie- eyes that were bleeding...literally! I'm guessing he saw compassion or something in me as I was jogging by, because he got up and tried to follow me. Only he'd been hit by a vehicle and his back leg was badly broken. He was a sack of skin and bones...
I remember praying a lot on that jog: "Oh God, can you just kill that thing and put it out of its misery! Please make it stop following me. Oh dear Lord, please don't let it be there when I come back; I can't stomach that!" But he was there when I returned...Only he was too exhausted to even lift his head this time. I thought surely he'd be dead soon. I forgot about him...until about a week later I was driving up to camp. There he was, a bit further down the road. How in the world was he still alive living on the side of a busy road, with nothing to eat around? But I've seen him a number of times this summer. And even when I don't see him, I worry that I am going to see him...it sort of ruins my trip to Rugova for some peace and quiet reflection...
 |
| Fall here is breathtaking! |
Okay, so, what was all that about? Why go into such depth and detail about a nasty, disgusting dog? Great question! As I was hiking up there yesterday, silently worrying about an encounter with him around each bend, I had a thought. Isn't that life? I've noticed it a lot since coming over here. People love to hear about the fun, culturally different, even funny, things about my time over here. I can dredge up some pretty entertaining stories. But when I begin to talk about the need of the people here. How life is for most villagers and gypsies. Or about religious obligations that enslave people. Heads turn. Ears close. Eyes glaze over. A subject change happens quick. I see it all the time. And I don't think it's not that people don't care or don't want to know. I think it's a bit like that dog was for me: overwhelming! Where would I even begin to help him? Feed him something one day, he's just as much in need the next day. Give him a bath (cringe!), what would that solve? And so it feels in regards to AIDS in Africa. Orphans in South America. Wars in the Middle East. Trafficking in Asia. Or whatever you want to pick out from the world news. Overwhelmed? Don't know how to begin? Would it even matter?
The US is very 'bubble-ish'...What I mean is that we can ignore these things, because truly we can ignore them. They don't touch our immediate lives or spheres. It takes a lot of effort to be knowledgeable about what's going on in the world and a lot of money to go visit one of those places. Most never have and never will... But something from nearly each page of the Word of God challenges that: Love the Widow! Care for the Orphan! Provide for those in Need! Be His hands. Live as He lived. Walk where He walked. See as He saw. Love as He loved! Don't turn your head away and ignore it all...
It's not at all comfortable. It's not at all easy, in any way. It's not beautiful or elegant. And you won't likely be applauded or even accepted in most places for living like that...But in the scheme of things- do those things matter? Aren't you called to Love Him with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength and Love your neighbor likewise? The two greatest commands! And who is my neighbor other than the least of these?
So, there you have it...my ramblings from a long hike, past a revolting and disgusting dog yesterday!
