Monday afternoon I watched Mark Driscoll’s report to his church (Mars Hill) on his quick trip to Haiti.  It was full of very moving pictures and video that were at once sober and amazing.  But the most striking thing to me was Mark’s demeanor throughout his hour plus presentation.

He was clearly saddened, stunned and still trying to get his bearings back.  Both his voice and his face were full of sadness as well as resolve. I have never seen him look like that before, and I’ve never heard him sound that way either.  All the same it was all very familiar to me.

Watching him reminded me of myself in the latter part of 2002.  I had made my first trip to Myanmar in February/March of that year, and returned home feeling as if someone had poleaxed me.  It took me months to get over the stunned, sad, disassociated feelings that I had.  That had been the first time I’d gone overseas, and my resulting culture shock was far stronger and lasted far longer than I had ever dreamed it would.

I had spent just two weeks in the largest city of one of the poorest countries in the world.  I saw, heard, felt and smelled things I had never experienced before. That trip changed my life.  I have never been the same since that day, and don’t even want to go back either!

But everything I saw paled in comparison to what’s happening to Haiti.  I’m sure there will be lasting changes in brother Driscoll’s life because of this as well.

Right now we are in the very early stages of working with some organizations to send a team to Haiti sometime this summer.  I can’t wait to go, even though I know what we’ll be stepping into will be both horrible and amazing.  The entire country is devastated, and God is at work through it all.

Serious Christians will respond to this in many ways, but being saddened to the depths of the soul will surely be a universal experience for all who go to work there.

And that’s okay!  In fact, I’d say it’s necessary!

We American Christians just to have to get past this silly belief that we ought to always be happy.  This is nonsense!  The Bible says to rejoice with those who rejoice, grieve with those who grieve.  You can’t grieve with a phony baloney, plastic smile on your face either!

There’s a lot of sadness in my heart right now.  For the people of Haiti, for my friends who are struggling in Myanmar, for myself and my sisters and my Mom as we try and care for her in her dying days and weeks.

And guess what?  It’s okay to be sad, as long as that sorrow is mixed with faith and joy! When my Mom finally does die I’ll be sad for me and my sisters, and very joyful and happy for Mom!

I’ll feel both sorry and joy, and that’s just the way God wants it to be!