I don’t live in the cleanest place in the world. The streets are usually coated in a fresh layer of dust and trash. Despite the sweeping I see people doing, the streets never do get 100% picked up. If i’m lucky I can go two weeks without having to walk through water from a broken sewage line and sometimes when I walk through the streets liquid falls on me from apartments above (I have resolved to believe this is from air conditioners). This last year I have become accustomed to things being a little dirty and I'm now used to smelling weird things, but as of a couple weeks ago, the streets were filled with something new.
There is a huge feast coming up. This feast celebrates the sacrifice that Abraham was willing to make when God asked him to sacrifice his son. It praises God for the provision of the lamb. To mark this occasion, people purchase an animal to honor and celebrate God’s provision. It is a time of celebration, eating, family and prayer. People will dress in their best clothes and work tirelessly to prepare a wonderful meal for the feast.
In preparation, the streets are filled with animals. I did a little inventory this morning and counted 12 cows and more than 25 sheep on my street. Two streets one way they have another 30 sheep and two camels, two streets the other way they have about 15 sheep and 6 cows. My neighborhood is filled! Troughs and hay fill the streets as well as the normal barn yard aromas. Most of the animals are marked with paint showing proof that they have been purchased in advance by a family for the feast. And the day of the feast, the streets will run red and everyone will be busy trying to collect and cook their meat for the big day.
Pray that this upcoming celebration: this common story. It could be a chance for people need to ask questions and discover the fulfillment of this story. And pray for my team as we live in the barnyard until then!
*I couldn't get a picture from my neighborhood, but this picture definitely looks like my neighborhood!