Thinking about Michael

Cape Town is quite the cosmopolitan city. The British and Dutch colonialism of the past has left it now as a bustling "Europeanized" city. It is not what I expected. A westernized city where KFC is known by everyone, the clothing is of all the latest styles, cars are a popular thing to have, and the waterfront (of a huge port) the other night was alive with the sounds of South African Jazz music.
Today amongst our activities we drove along the western coast home from Cape Point. We drove past the Clifton Beaches, and in and amongst some of the pricest properties in Africa. It is rumored that Posh Spice, Elton John, David Beckham, and Steven Speilberg play here to the tune of millions of dollars.
Amongst all of that abundance we stopped the van at a local store to purchase a couple of gifts. As some of the group were waiting outside there was a gentleman pushing a grocery style cart. He said his name was Michael, and that these were all of my things as he pointed to the cart. He had stopped to talk to the group when I walked up. He was yelling at one of the other nearby drivers who had asked him to move along. It is amazing how curse words are pretty universal no matter what language you speak or understand. Michael sang a song to one of our group and as we all boarded the bus and drove away he waved goobye to us.
As I go to sleep in such a cosmopolitan city tonight Micheal is just one of the things on my mind. His situation, regardless of why. We have been able to bear witness to some pretty powerful images over the past week through work AND play. Most of our work has been just sitting and listening to the stories of the residents of townships (aparteid slums), anti-apartheid workers and freedom fighters, and also to one another as we begin to process all that we encounter. In two weeks we will return to the United States and begin thinking about how to translate what we saw and apply to our individual and collective future ministries. From heart wrenching, to sensual overload and delight...all preconvcieved expectations and conotations are out the window!