the joy of nothing

Tensions, arguments, threats, and therefore our prayers, have been mounting for weeks now, and so when I saw Julio and Tony (names changed) coming down the driveway together this morning, Tony carrying an axe, my throat tightened.

Both employees of the seminary, a few small rifts between the two months ago had recently turned into mountains.  After picking at each other for a long time, finally Tony spread the word throughout the community that he thought Julio was planning to have him killed (this sounds extreme, but is a far too common way of "taking care of things" in Haiti.)

The community was anxious to get involved in the drama, and Matt and other staff members have been working over-time to keep peace at the seminary between these two men and between their friends.  The tension from their fighting was continually spilling over into other areas, causing blow-ups in the kitchen, hurt feelings, job frustrations, close mindedness, stubbornness and of course,  more threats (another far too common way of taking care of things in Haiti).

After a half-dozen meetings with the administration and especially Julio, Matt came home yesterday exasperated, frustrated and out of ideas.  "What in the world are we doing here!" he vented, tired of the whole ongoing situation.  "I'm at the end of my rope.  He's either got to quit, be fired, move or CHANGE....hah!  I can't imagine how much worse things could get if he were to quit or be fired, we know he's not going anywhere, and we both know he's never going to change."

"Now, Matt..." I began, but he already knew.

"I know, I know, God could change it, but man, I just don't see that happening.  I don't see how this is going to go away, and it HAS to, because I can't take it anymore.  I told him today in our meeting that the Bible tells us we MUST go to people we have wronged and apologize, and he was so hot-headed he couldn't even hear me.  He told me that would NEVER EVER apologize to Tony."

Realizing that it had been months since I had seen these two men even speak to each other, I was more than a little nervous to see them heading our way together this morning...with said axe.  I ducked back inside and hissed, "MATT.  Julio and Tony are here."  

Matt jumped up, also surprised, and headed out to meet them to keep possible violence away from the girls and the house.  

But as they approached, I realized there was no trace of the now-commonplace anger, tension, bitterness and hatred in their eyes.  Both men were grinning big goofy grins, and both began talking loudly and excitedly to Matt before they even met him.  

"There is nothing!  There is nothing."

"What?" Matt said, trying to understand.

"I did what you told me the Bible says to do," Julio said loudly.  "I went to him, and we talked about everything, and there have been a lot of big misunderstandings."

"We were both wrong," Tony beamed.  "Now there is nothing.  We are brothers," he said, cuffing Julio around the neck and thumping him happily.  "We can't fight like this.  There is nothing."

"WHAT?" Matt said, and I could tell that he was having a very hard time believing that what had literally come down to death-threats could truly be NOTHING in less than 24 hours.  

Julio and Tony began to laugh, hugging each other happily and thumping each other's backs.  "We did what you told us the Bible told us to do, and now there is nothing."

I must say I've never been so happy about "nothing" in my life.  Matt started laughing, too, trying to get his mind around what is absolutely a miracle.

"You've made my day," Matt said.  "No, my week.  My month.  This is the best thing that has happened all semester," and I peered through the door to see them grab Matt up in their excited hug, the axe (for an afternoon chore :) dropped by the road.  

Today we saw stubbornness more persistent than sickness healed, anger bigger than storms calmed, bitterness more ravenous than starvation fed, a relationship more finished than death brought to life...all things that only He can do. and Did.

Praising Him this now beautiful Saturday...for nothing!