“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”- Matthew 5:3
Kyle Idleman begins Chapter 1 (“Broken to Be Whole”) of The End of Me by describing a poor community in Paraguay literally located in a landfill. More than 1500 tons of trash are dumped there every day. Yet, this community is best known for having . . . an amazing orchestra!
A young professional musician, Favio Chavez, happened to visit the dump. But Chavez heard not what was, but what could be. Instruments were crafted out of recycled materials, For example, a cello was created from an old oil drum and old cooking tools. Tiny cans turned into a flute.
From the squalor, music emerged- the music of hope. The orchestra now is known as the Landfill Harmonic. Kyle notes that when he reads the Gospels, the Landfill Harmonic’s music seems to play on every page:
“Jesus left the throne room of heaven for the landfill slum of earth. He gave up perfection for brokenness and pain. And he said, ‘Strike up the band.’ He heard weeping and turned it into laughter.”
Although there was hopelessness all around Jesus, it’s hard for us to comprehend the totality of what Jesus does when He digs into the landfill of earth and finds the broken fragments of life.
Today’s question: What Scriptures fill your heart with the music of hope? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “An inside job”
