The Field of Onions

You’d be forgiven for not knowing where in Lisbon the Field of Onions is. Yet, most tourists end up there at some time or other, usually looking for a parking space so they can visit the Alfama, the Cathedral and the Castelo Sao Jorge. Or they stumble down to this open space after getting lost in the narrow alleyway of the Alfama.

Campo das Cebolas. The Field of Onions. Along the riverfront just before you come to Praça de Comercio, it’s an unprepossessing space full of parking lots, tramways and tired looking palm trees. Oh, yes, and the odd down-and-out, sitting on the pavement, pulling on a home made cigarette. For this is also one of those meeting points for the homeless of the city. And last night we were there and took part in an amazing dinner. Tables were set out on the pavement. Against the backdrop of buses and taxis passing by, and under the intermittent light of a few flickering street lamps, there was a buzz of animated conversation, as diners enjoyed rice and beans with shrimps, accompanied by orange juice, dessert and coffee. It was a dinner organised for the homeless by a Christian grassroots organisation called “Serve the City” that is seeking to make a difference in various cities across Europe.

What struck me, in talking with Antonio, Ze, Fernando and Nuno, how alive, alert and well informed these guys were. Here’s a guy who maybe finds you a vacant parking spot in a narrow street with a wave of his battered hat, and you give him a euro for his services. Society sees him (or doesn’t as the case him be) as worthless, dross of humanity, clogging up the unemployment statistics, and not worth caring about. And I’m afraid we do the same a lot of the time. But we’re called to be different, to have different values and not look with the world’s perspective. In the Kingdom every one has value. And it’s not about the money.

So it was good, but also with a bit of a sense of shame that we found ourselves interacting and listening to their stories. An accountant in the Cape verde Islands who hasn’t been able to find his way in life since coming to Lisbon. A young guy born and brought up in the shadow of the Castle, but who fell into drug abuse at an early age. Jesus loved them enough to die for them. We need to too.

Who Values Us?

Last week I was fascinated by the the juxtaposition of two highly unconnected news stories, which I found connected together in a wierd sort of way.

At the beginning of the week, we heard the word “junk” being used in relation to the nation of Portugal. Specifically, Moody’s Investors Services had slashed its evaluation of Portuguese Government Bonds to the value of “junk”, precipitating the country further into the economic crisis it’s been wading through.

Meanwhile, by the end of the week, way down in East Africa, the newest nation on earth, South Sudan, was celebrating it’s birth. And the foreign press either didn’t bother to report the joy and jubilation of the newly independent but insignificant little nation at all, or cynically commented on its slim chances of survival in the cut and thrust of the 21st century world.

What struck me about both these stories was the question of who it is who is entitled to pass judgment or evaluate a person or a people. Living here in Lisbon, even though not myself a Portuguese, I felt deep in my heart the emotive hurt that accompanied the use of the word “junk”. Okay, so that may be the economic reality of the moment, and it most certainly will result in a lowering of confidence of investors and a tough economic future, but is that the way to judge this nation, this people?

Similarly, those who missed the Independence Day celebrations of South Sudan missed a vision of a people with heads held high, celebrating with a joy that seems to come naturally from their spirits. The statistics may make depressing reading. Nine out of 10 people live below the poverty line; more than 10% do not make it past their fifth birthday. About three-quarters of adults are illiterate. The people of South Sudan are under few illusions about the challenges facing them, but they are justifiably optimistic. Their country, though ravaged by long years of war, is blessed with so much natural wealth.

And when you read the new National Anthem (apparently chose by a popular vote as a result of an “X factor” style competition) the South Sudanese would appear to place this optimism in God.

Oh God!

We praise and glorify you

For your grace upon Cush,

The land of great warriors

And origin of world's civilization.

Oh Cush!

Arise, shine, raise your flag with the guiding star

And sing songs of freedom with joy,

For peace, liberty and justice

Shall forever more reign.

So Lord bless South Sudan!

Makes me think about how wonderful it is that our own value as people rests in God and God alone. What is important above all is how He sees us and judges us, not how others might evaluate us, brush us aside or put us down. And he values us highly. As he spoke about His people so long ago in the Book of Deuteronomy. (7:7-9)

“It is not because you were more numerous than other peoples, that the LORD set His affection on you and chose you, for, indeed, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who follow Him”

The Olive Shoots and the Fruitful Vine

Colin was the first to go, leaving Friday evening so he could get to the wedding of a friend in Oxford. Next, Sharon, early morning Saturday, after a frantic night of shopping in the Outlet stores in Alcochete, packing and repacking, weighing and reweighing. Well, she’s got the furthest to go. Finally yesterday evening, Judith left for London. And so ended a wonderful week and a half with family again.

Makes me think about Psalm 128 again, which talks about being blessed within the context of family. The fruitful vine and the olive shoots around your table. “Blessed (and prosperous) is the man who fears the Lord”. And here’s Colin moving on from BEng to MEng in aeronautics, and more positive in every way about study and work and the prospects ahead, Judith settling in to life in London and establishing her social networks, and Sharon blossoming in her photographic creativity and getting more and more opportunities in Bangalore.

I cannot but thank God in his goodness in blessing us with these three, three whom I enjoy hanging out with, whose conversations are fascinating, stimulating and funny, and three whom I’ve grown to appreciate more and more with every year of their lives. So this was a summer week with visits to Belem and Alfama, to Troia and Caparica, jazz, blues and fado, watching the sun go down by the Rio Tejo. Great memories!