Sometimes when I pray I find myself pondering moments in my life that are deeply etched in my memory. These moments are unforgettable because the experience touched my heart so profoundly that it changed the way I see life. And what initially seems to be a distraction in my prayer actually ends as a consolation because the Spirit brings the grace of that moment back to me in a time when I need to relearn the lesson.
The other day when I was praying I found myself in Peru in 1998. I’ll never forget that life-changing trip. I was a seminarian and I traveled with a group of seminarians and priests to visit the good work that the St. James Society does in that country.
One day we traveled to the village of Via El Salvador. We left Lima, drove until the paved roads ended, and journeyed the rest of the way on dirt roads. When we arrived it seemed like we were in the middle of a vast desert filled with half built shacks. I had never seen such poverty, and my heart felt as desolate as the place where I was standing.
As we walked through the dirt streets, we intrigued a group of children playing in the road. They became very giddy, giggling at the obvious tourists. They were fascinated by our cameras and were positioning themselves to get in every picture. Their laughter and smiles were infectious.
Then it happened. As I stood there watching, I felt a little hand slip into mine. I turned and saw a little angel, no more than seven-years-old, standing at my side holding my hand. She looked at me, and my heart melted. She then led me on a walk with the other children as they showed us their village. They were so proud of their home.
She stopped and pointed to the right. “Mi casa,” she said. “Ah, your house!” I replied excitedly. She smiled. It was a hodgepodge of assembled materials, as if it had been built incrementally with whatever the father was able to find and afford at the time: a scrap of metal for the roof here; some wood for a wall there; another piece of wood to put over the hole in the metal roof here. She was so proud of her house. And I was so ashamed of everything that I’d ever complained about.
There was something about this little girl that touched me so deeply: such innocence and purity in her eyes, such joy, trust, contentment, and faith. I recalled that passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, “and a little child shall lead them.”
As she continued to hold my hand and lead me, I was reminded that I was standing in the middle of abject poverty. And I realized that I was the poorest one of all. I also realized that I was feeling tremendous joy, not because the people were poor, but because I was being taught about the purity and simplicity of life by a little poor girl—who probably had no idea how materially poor she was, but was deeply aware of how rich she was in heart and spirit. In a matter of minutes she had taught me, more than anyone else, that life is beautiful.
In the hustle and bustle of life I often forget how simple and pure life is supposed to be. Even as I write, I feel a stirring in my soul to go back to Via El Salvador. But really it’s a desire to live the life God intends for me: a life of faith, hope, love, simplicity, and purity—a holy life.
So I offer this memory to you not as one lesson about life and holiness, but as several that the Lord taught me that day; and I pray that by reading this you have learned the lesson the Lord wants to teach you.
What did I learn?
- That those who are poor can be very rich, and those who are rich can be very poor.
- That somewhere along the line we lose our innocence and purity and the Lord will use a little child to ignite a desire in our hearts to get them back.
- That faith is as simple as reaching out, taking God’s hand, and letting Him lead us.
- That happiness has nothing to do with the things I own, but with owning less.
- That we really do encounter the Lord in the poor.
- That the deepest desire of my heart is to be as content, simple, innocent, pure, trusting, and loving as that little girl was.
- That life is a gift and that it really is beautiful.
*The picture used in this post is not one that I took on my trip, nor does it show the children to whom I am referring in this post. It is taken from the St. James Society website.
10 responses so far ↓
millionmilejourney // November 14, 2009 at 1:50 pm |
We too have been humbled by the little children we have encountered. “Unless we become as little children” is so important to understanding entering the kingdom of God. It has more to do with humility than anything. Man’s pride (sin) twists things around pointing to self rather than God and others. I am moved by your compassion and love for others.
Although we are not Catholic we have lived in a convent and have held prayer meetings with beautiful sisters. The simplicity of God’s message of redemption allows any and everyone the opportunity to enter the His Kingdom.
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you exerience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
Ken and Maggie
“Going before God on behalf of others”
ken@millionmilejourney.com
Fr. Michael Najim // November 14, 2009 at 4:46 pm |
Ken and Maggie,
Thank you for your kind words and for the good work you’re doing for the Lord.
Peace!
Christine Dufresne // November 14, 2009 at 7:23 pm |
I know exactly what you mean! It was through an experience very much like the one you described and a beautiful journey with our Lord in Reconcilliation on my trip to Guiamaca, Honduras two years ago that I was given the tremendous gift of spiritual healing and conversion on so many levels of my life. Since that day that little Maria proudly pronouced me her “Amiga Nueva” walking through the barrios I have been unable to look at my life through the same eyes. I was blind and now I see, Deaf and now I hear. Our Lord has blessed me in so many ways since that day but it all started with holding that little hand and walking with him. Thank you for reminding me of what I have come to consider a spiritual rebirthday of mine and thanks to God for reaching out as He does for all his children just waiting for them to take His hand.
Fr. Michael Najim // November 14, 2009 at 9:10 pm |
Christine,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds very similar to mine. It’s amazing how these little ones can awaken God’s presence in our hearts!
Peace!
Belinda Munoz // November 16, 2009 at 1:36 am |
Fr. Mike, BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing (and I almost want to request more stories from you but I guess I’ll have to tune in to future posts). The little ones melt me, too. They have a way of connecting with no layers of pretense or fear or reservation — just full of love.
BTW, I have a guest post on tinybuddha coming out soon on a similar subject — life is beautiful. And how lucky are we to know this, and to have a chance to help others know it, too…
Fr. Michael Najim // November 16, 2009 at 10:53 am |
Belinda,
Maybe in the future I’ll write more about that trip. I also had a similar experience in Egypt…but that’s another story!
I look forward to reading your post on “life is beautiful.”
Peace!
Kelly // November 18, 2009 at 9:18 am |
I can imagine how work like this can be overwhelming, knowing what we intellectually know about poverty and deprivation. But then to be surprised by the fact that the children aren’t mournful, but joyful…it kind of turns everything we presume on its head.
Fr. Michael Najim // November 19, 2009 at 9:09 am |
Kelly,
That’s what truly struck me about them: their joy. However, as one priest said to me, they’re not joyful BECAUSE they are poor. They joyful because of their faith and the little that they do have.
Peace!
David // December 13, 2009 at 2:23 am |
Wow.
Top 5 Live Holiness Posts « Live Holiness // January 12, 2010 at 5:55 pm |
[...] as a bonus, here’s what I believe was my most heartfelt post: And a Little Child Led Me Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Live Science’s Top Ten; Medieval [...]