The Back Corner of the Yard

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The yard is my domain! This means that Kristin has no say as to how our yard looks and/or functions. This policy is the very policy that preserves our miniature Fenway Park from being dismantled. This policy protects the foul poles, back stop, permanent base lines, etc. from being transformed into some daisy flower garden. :)  As head groundskeeper of "Green Field Park" (aka my wiffle ball stadium/backyard), I have always had "the corner". This is a corner that is reserved for those things you can't throw away immediately and that have to be stored until a dump run. Things like big rocks and branches. It's the corner you hope no one sees or asks about. You know it is there but you hope it goes unnoticed.

Today our family visited the "back corner" of our county. It is a place that locals seem to ignore or act like it does not exist. In fact, based on some conversations I have heard, there are people who live on this land and have no idea what they are actually living on. This land is an Indian Reservation. It is an area that has many economical struggles, a high rate of unemployment, substance abuse, and family dysfunction. Yet, thousands of people drive by, or even through, every day without so much as a glance. It's like the "corner" no one wants to admit exists.

Far different from unwanted branches, though, this reservation is populated with people who have souls and their souls will either spend all of eternity in heaven praising Christ or in hell denying Him. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ". The missionary family that serves on this land, just this past summer, came in contact with children who had never heard of Jesus! Let that sink in for a moment - that's in America, AMERICA - our own country (my backyard) that have people who have never heard the Name above all names!!!

As shocking as that is, in some ways, I am not shocked. Let's be real. While we all may want to serve God, if we are honest, we also want our comfort and ease. Helping the helpless is not "fun" - helping a bunch of poor Indians won't get you invited to pray at an inauguration. But may we not forget what Jesus said about His disciples in Matt 25, "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."

 So, I will humbly ask this question: What's in the corner of your backyard? Are you ignoring it? Or are you taking the glorious Gospel to the uttermost parts of your own backyard?

Comments

For His Glory said…
So true...What is in our own backyard unnoticed?? Is it the undesirable smelly kid down the street who wants to come in your house and play? Maybe it's the neighbors across the street, or even worse the homeless man begging for your notice...how are we stretching our lives and comfort zones to reach the lowest of the low?? Have we forgotten WHERE our Savior was born? HAve we forgotten who He surounded Himself with? Prostitutes, the poor, the sinful...I ask these of myself, because sometimes I want o stay where I'm not inconvienienced or bothered by smell, or looking into the eyes of a filthy homeless lost soul...Thanks for the reminder...I am glad you guys are able to see what the Indian reservation needs-A Savior...This rings close to home, with Kawika and his side being of Indian descent, we've just heard from his dad and wife that they had to get off the reservation they were on because of the depression that seemed to linger over the reservation on all the families who lived there...They literally just moved out last month after two years...My Father in-law said it was one of the most disturbing things to see-no motivation, lazy mentality that's been fostered over the past generations...My Father in law's wife worked as a nurse practioner at the clinic on the reservation which was even worse...Young girls pregnant and using drugs and diseases and just really one of the worse nursing jobs she's ever experienced and she's been a nurse for about 20 years! So there's definitly work to be done on these reservations-God's Work!!
January 22, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Fenway Park "er" said…
Thanks for asking the question, Bryan. I've been meaning to talk to you about "what's in my backyard?" The three feet of snow that you all enjoyed during Christmas has melted. What was once hidden in the snow is now revealed. Tessie left her mark, BIG TIME. Last Friday I spent a significant amount of time purging my backyard from Tessie's trips to the snow. At one time the snow covered everything like God's grace covers our sin. But now everything is exposed. I was reminded of God's words in Isa. 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool." The great news is that once God grace covers our sin, it stays covered by the blood of Christ forever. There are people on both sides of my back yard who need more spiritual snow. However, instead of throwing it over the fence with a shovel, I pray I might take it to their front door with a smile. Thanks for the reminder!
January 22, 2009 at 7:01 PM
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