The Window
Jon & Dawn Barnes – South Africa
This photo was taken from a window of one of the churches that we are in partnership with here in the Kei Region of South Africa. This is the outstation, Auckland, of Knapp’s Hope Congregational Church at the foot of the Amatola Mountains. It is possibly the most beautiful location I have ever seen for a church. It is surrounded by lush, green mountains. It sits right in the centre of the village and has a magnificent view from all the windows. What a way to worship!
Jon & Dawn Barnes – South Africa
This photo was taken from a window of one of the churches that we are in partnership with here in the Kei Region of South Africa. This is the outstation, Auckland, of Knapp’s Hope Congregational Church at the foot of the Amatola Mountains. It is possibly the most beautiful location I have ever seen for a church. It is surrounded by lush, green mountains. It sits right in the centre of the village and has a magnificent view from all the windows. What a way to worship!
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who bring good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” Isaiah 52:7
However, as I sat in worship on this Sunday morning gazing out at the mountains and singing praises to our Creator God, I noticed this particular window. You can see there is a crack in the lower right pane and that the panes next to the top are a bit dirty from the local birds. And it got me to thinking…..sometimes as Christians we are broken on the inside or we feel unclean. We can be in the most wonderful settings, making all the money we dreamed of in a job, our family life is okay, everything on the outside seems to be going well, but on the inside we are shattered. We, ourselves, only know what is broken or unclean within us. Sometimes we want to hide this from others, sometimes we share this pain with those whom we are closest and sometimes we take this hurt with us to the grave. Often we do not know where to turn or what to do and this once again reminds me of this window. God was inside this church where I sat looking at the broken window, but God was also outside the church among God’s amazing creation. As Thomas Merton said, “God is in everything. God is transparent, but we just don’t see it.” We only have to be reminded where to go with our brokenness and God is there.
This picture reminds me that we are all human….broken, unclean, sinful…and God still loves us. God remains by our side, arms open wide…among the lush, green valleys and mountains, in our homes, in our churches and God heals us, cleanses our souls and renews our spirits. God is still moving…God is still speaking…God is still among us! Let us not forget our humanness, but let us always remember what lies beyond the broken and dirty window…”our God reigns!”
Rev. Dawn Barnes
Jonathan and Dawn Barnes are missionaries with the Kei Regional Council of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, South Africa. Jonathan serves in pastoral ministries among the churches in the region. Dawn serves in pastoral ministries and social work.