on the way back to the dreamcenter a buddy and i went to the local pizza place and picked up a few cheese pizzas. i told the lady working the counter they needed to be loaded with "so much cheese you can't tell its pizza." after a strange look and less than $20 i had fuel for a party in hand.
she had asked me not to forget her zulu bible so i didn't. we arrived to her room with a bible or two and a few pizzas. as we walked in stinbille sat up with wide eyes and asked,
"what do you have in those boxes??"
i answered, "what do you think is in these boxes? its pizza!!"
her immediate response was, "what kind? what kind of pizza did you bring?"
"so much cheese you can't tell its pizza." i answered with a grin.
she closed her eyes laying back on her bed and gave a smiling sigh. with eyes still closed she almost whispered, "i prayed for pizza. is it okay to pray for cheese pizza?"
you know, i'm so glad she prayed for pizza. i'm so glad she was shown Jesus is concerned with her present, with the little details, with pizza dinners for 20 year olds, with her. i'm so glad he showed he loved and cared and even LIKED her. and oh my goodness we had a fun pizza party. they asked me to go get their friend a few rooms down because she couldn't roll herself in her wheelchair. when i came back we ate pizza, played music a little too loudly and even danced a little. my friend and i were the only ones dancing on our feet, but there was dancing from everyone. we acted like normal college aged young adults. we weren't sick or depressed or bedridden or aids patients. we were friends eating pizza.
after the party i cleaned up and noticed the four ladies didn't quite eat three pieces of pizza together, and a rush of reality made me sad... but what was the ultimate reality? was the depression or the joy of the party the reality? were the shrunken stomachs or the dancing arms with pizza in hand the true story? so we see the movement of the kingdom of God. its like a daisey in the dark or a pizza party in a hospice. it doesn't screem for attention but isn't easily missed. its here and its now and its lovely.
and often, its vehicle can be a cheese pizza or two.
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3 comments:
"we were friends eating pizza." Goodness. I think that's just about the most beautiful and dignified thing you could have written. Thanks for writing that post. Sorry I've done a crappy job keeping up. Love you buddy.
Austin,
I want you to know that I have been reading your blog. I think you are doing and have done some pretty cool things for His kingdom. Keep up the good work and know that sometimes when you feel as though you are reaching no one, you may be making a difference in the way someone thinks about life. Perhaps they will be a little kinder to someone they would not normaly talk with. Maybe, just maybe they will thirst to hear more about this Jesus that you speak so intimately about. When keeping him in our sights, even if we hit the bottom, we are given all the more chances to share his love with the world.
Ps... Peru misses you. Alex still talks about you all the time. When I told the workers which group I came with, most replied with "AH, Pecito Austin!" (or however you spell it.)
thanks laura... ALEX!! i hope things are going well and that youre getting adjusted. praying for you when God brings you to mind.
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