To all my dearest friends and family that have supported me throughout this summer – whether it was financially or through prayer – I thank you and praise God for you for how you have been such an integral part in what I have learned and how I have grown this summer. I have been so blessed by the amount of support I received this summer and how uplifting it has been to see God and the community provide and be committed to the development of me and my team and the Lawndale community.
There is so much I learned this summer and so much I have yet to even process about God, about myself and my identity, about the brokenness in the world, about God’s desire for justice and reconciliation, about loving people and loving God, and His Kingdom. These few words, past posts, and even pictures can do only so much in showing the extent that I experienced of not only the brokenness in the world and me, but also God’s justice, goodness, challenge, and love – so feel free to ask me in person for stories! :)
Brokenness and Beauty
In an attempt to sum up the summer though, I experienced eyeopening brokenness and heart-wrenching beauty.
I saw and heard and learned and experienced the length and breadth and depth of brokenness in the city and in people’s lives, of systemic injustices, of broken relationships, and of my own brokenness. I struggled but learned to cry, to lament for the pain of people close and far. I listened to story after story of struggle and hopelessness. And I met face to face with my own walls and distance and apathy towards people.
But in the middle of brokenness, I saw the beauty of a community striving and growing and living out a call to love people in their midst. I heard story after story of God at work, of love for people, of reconciliation, of healing. I learned the hope of a community dependent on God – the difference between hope in pain and optimism in opportunity. I experienced a team, a community, and a God who appreciate and love me and love each other as God created us to be (Psalm 139). I experienced love and justice and hope to be a part of continuing God’s love and justice and hope.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:12-17
Aaron Zhao is a student blogger from the Chicago Urban Program. Throughout the summer we've posted blogs written by students on summer projects. These reflections were originally posted on the blog tofearlessaaron.wordpress.com. You can read Aaron’s previous posts on the UP blog: Post 1. Post 2.
