As a crow flies, we did not really have much distance to cover. However, a flight cancellation for some unknown reason left us with two options: take a night train through a politically unstable area, or rent a vehicle and make the voyage over the mountains by road. We opted for Plan B.
The scenery in NE India is beautiful, with its lush mountains and picturesque villages perched atop hills in the distance. However, this beauty was tempered a bit for us by the hairpin curves and endless bumps and potholes as our vehicle climbed the mountain, finally reaching the near mile-high pass by mid-afternoon.
We stopped for a much-needed break and refueled ourselves with a traditional Manipuri meal of rice and daal at a local eatery before heading back into the car for another couple of hours of tight road turns as we headed down the backside of the mountain towards our destination. We finally arrived, tired and dusty, one of us (namely the author) also struggling with a bit of a stomach bug. However, a good night’s rest and a shower made a world of difference and geared us up for yet another great day of Kingdom involvement.
Our focus for the day: a visit to the Channan House of Hope, a 24-kid-strong orphanage which is planted in the middle of a mixed community of Hindus and Muslims. This orphanage not only is a safe haven for abandoned and neglected kids, but is a place where lives are being molded, where the Gospel is being preached, and a place which is intentional about shining the Light of Christ to its neighbors.
As we spent time with the kids, some of them came forward with a choreographed praise song to God. As I sat and watched them, I could see the genuiness of their faith in their eyes, their faces, and their actions, and the verse that came to mind was when Jesus spoke of the Father desiring people who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). I think that these kids fit that bill. Their worship was without show and from the heart. They have a faith in God that springs up from within them, a faith that is real and genuine. I am sure that when Jesus said those words years ago that He had these kids in mind!
How about us? How often is our worship of God simple, heartfelt, genuine? How often are we afraid to lift our hands for fear of what others think, or critical of the song the worship leader chose because it didn’t really fit our style? How often have we allowed our minds to be filled with cares and concerns instead of
taking the opportunity at-hand to worship God? I learned a lesson today from a group of kids: they showed me what worship really looks like. May we all be challenged to be more like them; to be more genuine in our worship of God.
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