Putting Life in Perspective in India

This past week, I went with a small team to visit homes in India. My heart was moved and in pain at the size of their homes.  The street we were on was full of closet sized homes. Children were running all over the streets and water ran all over the place as women did laundry outside.  Knowing that some of these tiny homes housed a full family of 4 or 6 or even more is almost more than my western mind can grasp...

Still, despite their limited space, we entered home after home where they invited us in with a smile and even offered us a drink on occasion.  On the street, the children and women are all eager to take a photo with us, or to have us take a picture of them.

Reality.

This is their reality.  They don't have a bathroom, or a shower, or even a separate kitchen. They don't each have their own space. They don't have a couch to relax on. They don't have cold drinks, nor can they store up foods in a fridge or pantry. They don't have carpet or clean floors. They don't even have two beds.  Some, don't even have electricity.  And worse, many don't have work at all.

As I stood in these homes I realized, I don't have the power to change their circumstances, but I do have something that many of them are needing. HOPE.  And beyond that, I am realizing that HOPE, and God's Presence in my life is truly the thing that really matters.

Being in a home the size of some walk in closets starts to put life into perspective..... It really isn't about what we have, or what we eat, or where we live. It's about what is inside of us. You can be richer living in a closet sized home than someone living in a mansion if you have the joy of the Lord, the hope He offers, His unconditional and never failing love and the confidence in his presence in your life. That is what makes a person rich....