World news

Cook and Pietersen dominate Test

Alastair Cook hits 158 not out and Kevin Pietersen a memorable 99 as England close day one of the first Test against Bangladesh on an imposing 374-3.... [+]

Lehman bosses severely criticised

A report into the collapse of US bank Lehman Brothers criticises senior executives and auditor Ernst & Young for serious lapses.... [+]

Burma election laws a 'setback'

The US calls Burma's new election laws a setback for dialogue, as a UN envoy condemns 'gross' human rights violations.... [+]

Deadly blasts hit Pakistani city

At least 39 die in twin suicide attacks targeting Pakistani security forces in the eastern city of Lahore, police say.... [+]

Sarkozy to meet UK party leaders

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will hold separate talks in London later with Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron.... [+]
Eyes, smiles and faces

Chile. What can I tell you about this beautiful but sometimes depressing country?

Beautiful? Yes, it sure is. Imagine walking out your front door on your way to the metro, seeing the mountains of the Andes rising up around you, clearer then the clearest picture, more beautiful then the most beautiful words.

Depressing? Yes, it sure can be. Imagine walking into a stuffed metro, where nobody knows who he is pressed against to, where each person is just another face. Where kids are left in orphanages, just because their parents can‘t take care of them.

I have personally loved Chile. It was so good for me to go to, and God really putted so much into me, He grew and stretched me in each and every way. It was depressing at times, but most of all it was beautiful, just like the country itself.

God often brings us in places or situations in live, which are both depressing and beautiful. Most of all beautiful, but at some points in time depressing. And I think in those moments we need to try to clench on to God.

When we feel like God is not stretching us for (in our eyes) useful reasons, when we are in country‘s that are soaked in pain, when we don’t feel in place and so on. How often do we forget to look at the One who makes everything beautiful, the One who takes the deepest pain and eases it with His love?

God wants to heal us, He wants to heal the situations we‘re in, He wants to heal the country‘s that are filled with pain, and He wants to heal us. So we can stop looking at all the depressing things. So we can love that one person on the metro, so we can pray for them. So we can stop looking at the kids in the orphanages and we can start seeing the smiles on their faces. Open the eyes of the heart you gave me Lord.