At two in the morning in the slums of Manila, a young boy was out on the street. When asked why he was not at home asleep, he replied quite proudly. "My brother is asleep now. There is no room for everyone in the house. When he wakes up and goes to work it is my turn to sleep."
I heard this story at Laity Lodge from Edwin Mercado, a Jesuit priest from Manila, Philippines. He's spoke recently at the Leadership Foundations of America Retreat. These are some great people who are doing incredible work in our cities.
That young boy in Manila was doing incredible work, too. And he was proud of his role in helping the family. His brother had a job, and it provided money for the family. The young boy's job was to give up his space in the house so his older brother could get the rest he needed to provide for the family.
In his talk, "Redeeming Our Cities," Fr. Mercado told another story about a beautician who lived and worked in the slums. She saw herself as one who provided beauty to women.
"If I can make them look pretty," she said, "they feel better about themselves. They are happier and do good things."
(Dan Roloff, http://www.thehighcalling.org/Library/RamblinDan.asp?BlogID=447)
