Beauty in Rough Places

Out here in the suburbs of Tokyo, our city of Higashi Kurume sprinkles nature trails amidst modern ten-story apartment buildings.

Yesterday I went on a walk to show our house guest a nearby bamboo grove. To preserve the natural walkway, the path was somewhat treacherous in parts. A man with a leg brace similar to Russ' walked on that path using his cane. Disability could not keep that man away from beauty. He gave me courage to think that Russ could still improve if we don't give up.

Further into a secluded area along a brook, I noticed the artistic way pieces of wood had been placed to make a little foot bridge. Each board individually was worn and even appeared rotten. But together it was beautiful. These days almost every thought takes us back to the earthquake. I wondered, "Can God bring beauty from the ravages of the tsunami?"

Yes. God can. Just as Paul found "a great door for effective work" opened up for him in the midst of opposition, (I Corinthians 16:9) so God is opening up the way for beauty in the wake of unbelievable destruction.

There is a Christian retreat center in the picturesque Ome area. They have conducted successful ministry at this site for fifty years. Unfortunately, the neighbors have resented having Christians in their neighborhood. They can't get rid of the Christians because they own the land.

A Baptist church in Fukushima was totally washed away by the tsunami. People cannot live in the area because of the close proximity to the nuclear power plant. The pastor went around and gathered his people together.

The retreat center invited them to come stay in their facility. The days turned into weeks. The camp canceled all their guests for the rest of the calendar year to provide housing for these refugees. Food donations have come in to feed the people. The neighbors got wind of it.

The Christians are providing housing for Fukushima refugees? Suddenly attitudes changed. The towns people are proud that their town is actively helping their nation in this tangible way. The Christians turned from unwanted intruders in this tight-knit community into heroes. God is bringing beauty to rough places.