What if Budapest...part 1

The best stories are true.
I'm not talking about fiction versus nonfiction.
Lord of the Rings is as true as any history or biography, truer than some.
True stories speak to the reality of who we are as humans, never trying propagate an ideal of human nature that disconnects from the bare experiences of life. They never try to point to hope or fulfillment where none exists or attempt to disprove the reality that joy and peace can be found somewhere. True stories never paint beauty where horror lies plainly visible, and never deny the reality of miracles no matter how incredible.

The story of Hungary is true.
And based on my brief venture into Budapest, Hungarians tell true stories. more than tell them, they live them.
Life in post-Communist Hungary involves much uncertainty regarding government, economy and religion. The few certainties all seem negative.
Many Hungarians find themselves alone and lonely, discouraged if not defeated. But in the midst of hardness they do not stop. They do not stop searching, studying, voting, moving up and down the line between oppression and hope looking for a place to cross.

The tough, gritty story they tell as a people resonates with me like a big brass gong; much of what I hear in my own society sounds hollow and tinny in comparison.

I could learn from their realistic and determined approach. But what I longed to hold out to them was the Way to hope, the Pathway to peace. Jesus seems to blend into the noise of their fight for survival because they can't see how he connects us to the deepest desires of our hearts. This connection is not made clear for them so much in sermons and studies as it is in doing life with Christ-Followers. They, like the rest of the world, need to see Jesus making a difference to real people. This is usually a long process requiring patience and persistence. Not an easy task for missionaries who have supporters wanting to know "how many people have been saved this month?"

I really admire the optimism of my friends who are working in Budapest and I believe their positive outlook will be rewarded; I believe their relational approach will bear fruit.
Hope has come and Christ is alive and well in Budapest. I pray more and more Hungarians will dive into His story. Its true, and its the best of all.