07.14.2017
Time here in North Philadelphia has been such a great experience full of equal blessings and challenges. There was one day so far that I know I’ll never forget. Our group was walking back from the day and a young man approached us with an issue regarding his finger that was purple and swollen. He then asked if we would also look at his feet. Once he sat on a ledge and took his shoes and socks off, we realized this was a much more pressing issue than his finger. Much of the skin had peeled off and the fuzz from his socks has begun to seep into the blisters. Alex, our favorite future podiatrist, along with the help of Cody and his first aid kit, began to clean and bandage this man’s foot.
Almost suddenly I was overwhelmed with emotion. In that moment, I saw so much more than the tangible situation: I saw a man thirsty for a glimpse of hope, and God sent our team to meet him where he was. Through this I not only saw him, but I saw me- a broken person, unable to comfortably walk without this Earth without a genuine and sufficient source of hope. I saw a beautiful portrayal of Jesus, stooping to wash the feet of his wretched and sinful followers, demolishing any of sort of societal hierarchy.
To this man we met that day, it may have meant nothing more to him than merely helping his foot issue, but perhaps it was the beginning of an understanding of Jesus’ character and sacrificial love. His only prayer request that day was that he could get off the streets, so I will continue to pray that someday this man understands the eternal hope and healing found in none other but Jesus. May we all strive daily to pursue the humility of Christ so that our hungry world may soon know the availability of true restoration.
“Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet. Very truly I tell you, no servant, is greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
John 13:14-16
-Macy McCollister