I recently returned from a whirlwind trip through Portugal and Spain. And while it seemed we were always on the move, there was much to see and soak in. There was the beauty of changing landscapes: olive groves of Andalusia, orange trees of Valencia, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the plains of La Mancha, the waters of The Tagus river in Lisbon and the Eastern coasts of Spain. There was the sublime magnificence of cathedrals with their altarpieces of gold, little side chapels and cloister walks that often moved me to tears, especially as I thought about the faithful who prayed in these sacred spaces over hundreds of years. There were museums housing priceless pieces of art, like The Prado in Madrid, home to The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, one of my favorites.
There was also no shortage of opportunities for people watching. Tourists were everywhere: disgorging from tour buses lined up at popular sights; snaking around a museum waiting for our time to go in, and once in, jockeying for the best view of a painting; walking through city plazas, parks, down the narrow streets of Seville, or the wide Ramblas of Barcelona.
Less on display were the people who literally kept things going. The bus drivers who ferried us safely from place to place. The porters who schlepped suitcases to our rooms, the waiters who kept water pitchers filled, the buffet table replenished and managed somehow to keep drink orders straight, and the elderly couple who manned the tiny bar or small cafe. In addition, there were the hidden-from-view people, those who toiled behind the scenes. The ones who cleaned our hotel rooms, washed the dishes, cleaned the public toilets. We rarely saw them, but if they were gone, things would certainly come to a halt.
Strangely enough, I especially noticed such hidden people in the airports. Airports are a place of anonymity and “in betweenness” where one is either rushing to catch another flight or killing time during a long layover. Here, these people are there in plain sight if only we want to see them~ the cleaners with their heads down, pushing their carts loaded with supplies, doing the jobs none of us want to do. They quietly clean the toilets, the sinks, mop the floors, restock toilet paper and soap. While most of us, tired and stressed, rush past them without a second glance. On the occasion when I would render a simple “thank you”, they’d look at me with startled amazement.
Their presence and their diligence keeps the world spinning on its axis.
That being said, in this long introduction, Jesus came for such people. For the poor, for those living on the margins, for the widow, the orphan, for those whose lives seem insignificant or hidden to most of the world. Jesus sees them and honors them with these words from the Gospel of Matthew:
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:2-12)
If we look closely, we see that each one of us lives on some sort of margin. Each one of us is in need of Christ’s mercy and healing, His beatitudes. We all bear some sorrow, despair, hidden offense we don’t want others to know. Christ came for each one of us bringing His gifts of healing: mercy, forgiveness, compassion and light. Christ came, knowing our name, knowing us before we were even born. He sees us. His love is never hidden from us.
Rehema Hospice and Clinic was born out of a desire to bring Christ’s mercy to those who suffer in body and soul. For those who suffer quietly in their homes out of shame or lack of resources, our dedicated Rehema staff travels to them to provide necessary medical care. For those who need basic healthcare, our clinic is now open and an average of 11 patients a day come through Rehema’s doors,seeking help. And for those who require inpatient care, beds are open. Rehema just recently received the seal of approval to begin to accept the National Healthcare Insurance reimbursement! This is a big deal for us. Currently we have two inpatient guests at Rehema with more to follow. And, soon, I will be posting updates about the progress at Rehema. Buildings are going up, more staff is being hired and people are receiving much needed care.
If you are moved to support the work at Rehema, please consider making a generous gift to Always Mercy.
Rehema Nurse Cindy and Deaconess Elizabeth getting ready for a home visit
Nurse Cindy caring for a patient on a home visit
Rehema cleaner, Joice, in the middle with fellow Community Health Promoters
