Sometimes I find my deepest faith in the darkest corners of an abandon space. Neglect and decay consume most people’s view, a bleak rotting wasteland, a forgotten place that is an unsightly eyesore. I understand this opinion, most people don’t like to live with ruins. It’s hard to look into these spaces and find beauty of any kind. It’s a challenge that is often met with closed eyes. Yet if we look beyond the surface we may just be surprised at what we will see.
I’ve been fortunate to witness new life in these spaces. A mother opossum with her babies clinging to her side scurrying away from me as I carefully weave my way through her territory. A hive of honey bees working hard to create and maintain their nest. Numerous pigeons cooing from the rafters eyeing me cautiously as I climb a ruined stairway. Sometimes is it just a vine or a sapling that catches my eye. This raw creation in the depths of decay has become a constant and I find myself aware of it on every adventure.
In these moments, I am reminded that God is constantly at work in the world. Forever challenging us to view the world with new eyes, with hope, with love. To look beyond what is on the surface and see the possibilities among the ruins.