Education •the gradual process of acquiring knowledge

Today I furthered my education and continued the gradual process of acquiring knowledge; knowledge about someone else's life; knowledge about the realities that other people face.

Kimal was my teacher today. Standing on the 9th floor of the rundown apartment building where he lives, listening to him answer my questions, I learned a lot.

I've known Kimal for a few months now. The first time we talked was outside a shop where he was trying to "hustle" me for money (which can mean begging, stealing or selling). I've given him money a few times when his hard luck story was particularly good, but I gave that up quite awhile ago when I learned a little more about his addictions. Now he rarely asks me for money- he knows the answer: "Kimal, you don't need money- you need a family who will love you, care for you, hold you accountable and help you, and that's what God designed the church to be." He used to promise me that he'd come to church, but we've also gotten past those false promises.

The thing that took me to his house today was a chance encounter with his mom at the shop this morning. She told me about having lost something which I happened to know that Kimal had sold a few weeks ago. He was stealing from his mom to pay for his habits. I wanted to ask him about it, not because I expected him to feel convicted or anything, but because I wanted to understand what takes a guy to that point. I wanted to learn. And I did.

I learned a lot.

I learned that 50 Rand (about 7 US Dollars) will buy enough crack coccaine from the Nigerians to get an addict his next high.

I learned that somehow, a guy who has no job still spends about a 1,000 Rand per week on drugs.

I learned that Kimal started doing drugs when he was 12 years old, and that he quit school after the very first day of class in grade 9.

I learned that his one attempt to get his life back on track happened when he got out of prison in 2007 and that attempt failed when his old contacts tracked him down.

I learned that Kimal doesn't really feel alive anymore. Each day is just another burden to bear on the way to his next high.

I learned a little about being "a friend to sinners" and the suspicion that is cast upon you when you associate with the unwanted elements of society as well as the risks you take when you befriend a person with enemies.

I saw Kimal get attacked once outside a shop in broad daylight, and today I learned that the thing which provoked it was a 50 Rand debt that went too long unpaid.

I learned that sometimes ministry means feeling the weight of other people's burdens and bad choices.

I learned that there are some wounds which only Jesus is big enough to heal.

I learned that I cannot change a person's heart nor can I convince them to bow their knee before their Maker.

And I'm still learning. This is reality. This is life.

My question is this: "How can such a man, with such a past ever be redeemed?"

I'm learning to take heart in the answer: "With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."

I want to see the impossible made possible- for the glory of GOD!