Nothing Beats Experience

Two days ago, I strolled onto a big jet, tucked myself into my cozy little airline seat, and contemplated the days I had just experienced in El Salvador.  I pulled out my simple black journal in the hopes of capturing the abstract and scattered thoughts that were surfacing.  During the seven days I was in Central America, I struggled to really debrief with myself.  I felt caught up in the moments and found my day-to-day routine a bit surreal.  I think that's normal, but as I was given time to just sit during the flight back to the U.S., I was determined to pull some deeper thoughts into clearer view.  As I jotted down the aspects of the trip I wanted to focus on in the coming days, one of the phrases I penned was: "Nothing beats Experience."

How true this is.  As great as technology and story-telling can be and as compassionate and sympathetic as humans generally are, absolutely nothing can beat first-hand experience in its ability to instruct the heart.  My experience in El Salvador highlighted this truth to me yet again.  In my lifetime, I've seen a lot of pictures of children around the world who are not so fortunate.  I've heard many a story of them as well. 

Yet, for the first time, I was touched and loved by such children this last week.  I was up close to their stories and their personalities.  I watched tears stream down the face of a teenage boy during a prayer service.  I heard kids joke and laughed at their sharp wit.  I saw their passion for life.  I worked on my Spanish via their patient tutoring.  I received more hugs from them than I can count.  I found out what they like and what they don't.  I watched them play soccer and basketball.  I sang with them and heard their hauntingly pure voices.  I sat next to them and held them close.  These children are fortunate because they live in a safe and loving place where they are taught about the love of Christ.  Yet, most of them still suffer the heartache of a broken family and some of them have been through things I cannot imagine.  Suddenly, stories and pictures of hurting children were a crisp, 3D image that would not have been possible had I not interacted with such children myself.

So, in the coming days, I hope to process a few aspects of my time in El Salvador.  God has a lot to teach me.  No doubt, my experience in El Salvador will afford me the opportunity to learn more about His kingdom and His redemptive plan.  I don't want to miss such a rare gift.