the world as it should be

On Sunday, we had three junior highers come upstairs for service with me, the Youth Director, while the main service took place. As they sat around on couches in the youth room, I held a pair of frames that used to be glasses and said, "these are special glasses. When you put these on, you'll see the world as it should be. Who wants to try them on first and tell us what you see?"

Immediately one student's hand went up and I got my marker and board ready. She proceeded to describe the world as it should be, "No racism. No sexism. No homophobia. No endangered animals. No poverty." The frames were passed to the next student. "Education is accessible for everyone. No homeless. No bullying." The frames were passed to the last student. "Not tearing each other down. Less hurting each other. Everyone treated the same. No one is hungry."
 
This kicked off our discussion on justice making. But I felt in that moment, there wasn't too much more to teach. They got it with radical simplicity. Creating a snapshot of what a just society looks like becomes a simple activity when you've experienced what injustice is. My heart often feels like accordion bellows when it comes to hope for the future- waxing and waning. But it's moments like this that make me feel pretty full of hope.

Let me pass the frames to you, reader. What do you see when the world is as it should be? And an even better question, what are you doing to make it look like that? May we have the frames to see, and hearts and hands ready to make it so.