Unbeknownst to me, I turned around. I turned around confused. It made no sense, how could it be that men, women and children pass by one after another and not heed?
Scraping, sliding and struggling across the road was a fragile and weak old man. As a turtle gets to the other side, he inched through the street on his last string of energy simply to cross to safety.
I, about 50 yards away, began to run towards this chaotic scene of silence in compassionate fear for his life. The streets of Nicaragua are safe for no man, especially an old man sliding his body across the asphalt one inch at a time.
At my arrival, with a tear stained face, he looked me in the eyes and held his arms high like a child does his father. With both walking canes in the middle of the street, I realized he had fallen, fallen with nothing left but a cry and a crawl to safety.
Without hesitation, I picked him up and removed him from the line of fire. To the sidewalk we went.
It was interesting how, at this moment, people now noticed him. People now recognized need.
Don't we sometimes just want to be noticed and loved, built up and spoken to?
Manuel Consado is his name. This eighty-something year old had come to Jinotepe for the festivities of the day because he had heard about the energy and excitement of the festival and wanted to simply be near. What a childlike heart to experience excitement, even at his dwindling age.
After visiting and meeting the crippling needs of his stomach, I asked Dusty, my friend who is currently on the World Race, to lead as we prayed over him. We talked to God and Manuel sobbed as he thanked us, blessed us and spoke of the honor it is to be our brothers.
After all, who doesn't want to be loved, reached for and honored?
No need for a celebration! We had a celebration of his life right there in the streets.
Everyday is one to celebrate and the Father rejoices as His children are cared for, honored and lifted up in love.
In the words of Jason Gray, "blessed be the ones who know that they are weak", those who reach their arms high, hungrily desiring a experience with a loving, honoring and rescuing God.
Hungry. That explains it all….
We can learn from both ends of this story. We can be like Manuel and lift our hands high in recognition of our frail needs as we humbly approach our Daddy in worship and expectantly wait for His movement. He surely lifts us up! I also encourage you to live as Dusty & I (humbly speaking) and run to rescue, honor and love those around you. There is a silent cry that engulfs the city streets. Hungrily run to it as you respond to the heart of God, for He waits for you.
So incredibly touching & amazingly powerful. It’s no coincidence that you guys were in that spot. Thank you for sharing this testimony!
This is an excellent, excellent post… -drew
Thank you for reminding me we are the hands of Christ as we walk these streets in this world.
The grace, the presece of love in this world is ours to reveal to others.
If there is darkness then be the lamp in the darkness.
You either walk in faith or walk in fear.
I choose faith.
Dude, thanks for posting this. Every time I think back to that, it breaks and overjoys my heart at the same time. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to serve Manuel, along side of you. Love you man, can’t wait to see you soon, and I’m praying for the rest of your time in Nicaragua!
Guys and gals, thanks so much for commenting! Let’s be “all in” together!
I see God’s work through this story about Manuel. So It’s sad but also happy. God’s love and grace were poured out to Manuel through you Colby and Dusty that day. We need to love and reach out to our fellow man. So many need it and are reaching in their own way.
MeMaw