Emmy and I found ourselves standing in a frustrated line of people as we all learned that Al Italia had canceled our flight to Rome this past December.  Instead of the direct flight to Rome we were hoping for, we were put on KLM to Amsterdam, with a 7 hour lay-over.    If I had known this was going to happen, I would have looked for something to do in Amsterdam, like tour Anne Frank’s house, or spend a few hours in the Van Gough Museum.  But I didn’t know about these things; all I knew about was the Red Light District.  So, I said to Emmy, “Let’s check it out!” thinking that it can’t be that bad at 1:00 in the afternoon.  It can be, and it was.  As we walked through block after block, smelling what we smelled, and seeing what we saw (hoping each block would be the end of it), we became less and less disgusted with what we saw (and smelled), and more and more filled with compassion.  I began to reflect on what Jesus would possibly be thinking as he walked the streets of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.  And I thought of the religious leaders bringing to him the woman caught in adultery (did you ever think it was strange they didn’t bring the man too?)(John 8.1-11).  I thought of the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and poured perfume on them while Jesus asked Simon the priest: “do you see this woman?” (Luke 7.36-50).

It’s easy to judge.  It’s hard to love.  It’s one thing to look across the street.  It’s another thing to walk across the street and actually see someone.  See them for who they are: an image bearer of GOD.