"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke9/6/2015 Friday night we sat through traffic jams for about an hour. Our trip didn't turn out like we had planned. Instead of getting to the park at four we got there at six. But in the end, Gods timing is never random. His plans are always perfect. As we drove through the city, there were literally hundreds of people walking by and suddenly it hit me, so many sad faced. So many stories. So many people looking for meaning. Searching for answers. Longing for more.. For God. And do we really care? Do we really know the meaning of love? Are Christians really doing their job, believing, trusting,... His hands and feet? San Jose has more people then the country of Belize. Friday night my bro,... He taught me again that when we are common and real we blow up this world. And that sometimes all it takes is a young man and his guitar to bring a group of hurting youth together. And through their music, although unique. They told their stories. My bro, he walked across the park and sat down with a small group of young men all of them dressed in black. Soon he started playing his guitar and singing for them. Before long they wanted to share their music and talent as well. Honestly, as I watched him sitting there solo, fear punched me hard. He's my bro and for a few moments I was scared to death for his protection against the darkness, heaviness.. And yet, I haven't been more proud. If you want to hear the cry of a street kids heart get them to spontaneously rap for you. '' Todo esta descontrolado, no sabemos que a pasado. Han matado en todo lado, y a mi me han buscado. Me han dicho que dan orden de captura, quien me lo asegura? Si yo siempre busco alturas padezco de locuras y con la droga se me cura....." - Street kid. - "People don't need you to make them feel good, they need you to add value to their lives." - Asher Witmer I sat across the park alone for a while. In a city full of darkness. Pain is real and I saw it on all their faces. I saw it in their eyes.. - To the hobo who had walked for miles because he is sick of city life, and refuse to ride a bus.. to go with the flow. Because he quoted, " The more people you surround yourself with, the lonelier you become.".. He also quoted. " People think I'm crazy because I love sitting under trees and listening to the birds instead of listening to music.. I don't believe we were created for this crazy lifestyle. Sometimes I don't know what I feel anymore..." I hope you never forget that God is the only one who can give life real meaning. That although you feel alone and lost in crowds of people in this crazy world, you are never alone and you are always loved. - Our friend who writes poetry for a living. I love when you read to us..I love your facial expressions. You have talent. Your poetry seeps loneliness and so many questions about life, art, fire, God.. Your story matters. Your battle with HIV matters. You matter... "You gain influence with others not by being perfect, but by being real." - Asher Witmer ![]() - To the young man who quoted " I'm just a piece of trash." I'm sorry humanity labels you as trash sometimes. But you are more, and no matter what you have been labeled as, you are not that. You were created with purpose cool guy. - To the tough girl. You are so brave. Life has been rough on you, but it hasn't got you down. You are an insane rapper. And as you rapped your heart was screaming for acceptance, for assurance. You said something that at first I couldn't figure out. But then I got it,..You were saying " I might not be as pretty as the girls in the brothel across the street, but my value is equal. " You didn't say it in those words. But that was the drift. And girl, our value is not limited by our looks or our abilities. We are all loved and worth dyeing for. And child, you are amazing! - To the sixteen year old girl. You are so young... you have so much life ahead of you. I wish you knew that you broke our hearts. Your vulnerability and innocence scared me to death. Your insecurities don't label you. Your size doesn't define you,... You are so loved baby girl. - You in the white hoodie. You are awesome. You have a cool laugh and I loved your humor. You quoted " I come to the park to distract myself so that I don't feel alone... " For the most part your humor hid the fact that you are petrified about life. But your eyes screamed fear. I hope you know that you are not solo on scary lonely nights. - To the dude with perfect English, who lived in Florida as a kid and now ended up on the streets of San Jose. Your eyes were so dark. So full of hate and lust. So full of emptiness... You chilled behind the scenes but your presence was huge. Heavy. You tried to figure us out. Did you get it? Did you leave knowing we really love you..that there is hope in your darkest. That is wasn't just about pizza. That there is more in this broken world. -Yo future padre, you rapped about your fear of being a daddy..You told us that you were going to be a daddy in nine months. That you were scared to death. that it was an accident. I hope you know your child is not an accident. That your baby has a heart beat. A soul that is eternal. That your babies eyes will shine. That your baby is loved and chosen.. That you are loved and chosen. - You who quoted " You guys coming out to the park was not in vain." You showed us a picture of your darling little girl. I saw the panic in your eyes when you said you had to change your life around for her. You told us about your addictions.. your future hanging by a thread... - You four girls, you who walked through the park and towards the biggest brothel in San Jose. You ripped me apart last night. I wish I could have talked to each of you more then just a few words and a smile....I hope you know that you are more then the height of your heals. I wish I could have given you a hug and made the pain go away.... I pray that someday you know the one guy who died for you because He really loved you to the cross and back. - To the cool world traveler. You told us about your amazing business. You told us how life has treated you so well you could have retired at 35. And about your wife and three little children. You stayed and had pizza with us.. not because you couldn't afford something far better then a piece of pizza and small glass of coke. But because you were shocked. I'm sorry you had to be surprised that someone would take the time to have a pizza party at a park with street kids. This should be something common. You quoted " I haven't even seen this in the mega churches in the USA. " ... And yet you got it. And when you left you said " I'll be thinking about this.. People don't see this anymore." “If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.” ― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life Study Guide "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke After the pizza party someone ask me " Hey guapa, what is it that makes you so happy?" He made my night. Because he knew it was something more... Then my bro started playing his guitar again and singing... and again the group came around and shared their talent,.. but it went from heavy, dark, dirty ,... to broken stories, longing, loneliness... In the end my bro, he sang worship. And the rest of us we finished up the pizza and passed around the cinnamon rolls for the 6th time. And as my family and Gilbert's walked away after the pizza party. Those sad faces, they were smiling. And my heart was blowing up because so often I'm so blind. How can we keep living the norm,.. knowing there are so many sad faces, so many eternal souls searching for a way out. - “Fight for us, O God, that we not drift numb and blind and foolish into vain and empty excitements. Life is too short, too precious, too painful to waste on worldly bubbles that burst. Heaven is too great, hell is too horrible, eternity is too long that we should putter around on the porch of eternity.” ― John Piper
-“Desire that your life count for something great! Long for your life to have eternal significance. Want this! Don’t coast through life without a passion.” ― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life - “My joy grows with every soul that seeks the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Remember, you have one life. That’s all. You were made for God. Don’t waste it.” ― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life
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