Giggling with half-closed eyes, Houda slyly tore off a hunk of lettuce and crammed it in her mouth. She chomped away at Melissa and I, daring us—with her eyebrows—to join her.
It was December 31st, 2003 in Iraq, and our friend, Houda, was instructing us on everything Iraqis do to welcome in the New Year. Apparently, if you want to do it right, you have to eat a head of lettuce. Or, as many as you can.
Melissa took one from the big pile in front of us and dug in. Houda’s eyes sparkled as she lifted a hand to hide her lettuce-laced smirk. I took a long look at her and wondered if she had just pulled a fast one on her American guests.
Twelve years on from that night, I can’t say I’ve found any conclusive proof of a tradition involving Iraqis, the New Year, and stuffing a head of lettuce into your mouth. I’ve looked.
At the time, making space for Houda’s giggling and teasing was what we had to do—because we all knew what was camped just outside on her family’s doorstep.
Later that night on our way home, our driver veered sharply onto a dark alley to avoid the deadly trajectories of gunshots rippling a hundred yards ahead of us.
For the unfortunate souls living in communities ripped apart by war—and for the disciples whom Christ calls into those communities to bear His witness—this is life every day.
Twelve years on from that night, I still see Iraq. In my spirit, I’m deeply grieved to see the hard things that beautiful, historic region has witnessed this past year. From our human view on this side of heaven, 2015 has not been kind to Iraqis and their neighbors.
I have my own theories about what has brought us to the traumas of 2015 and what our world leaders should do about it.
But you and I as followers of Jesus both know that there isn’t any academic solution to the violence we are witnesses to in our world.
The psalmist described in his time how the nations raged and the people plotted in vain against each other, but God established His King over everything. That King in Psalm 2 was revealed to us as Jesus.
Our only real hope for a world in turmoil resides in Jesus Christ—a baby born under turmoil and a child refugee of terrorism. Victim and victor of an eternal war, Jesus stood alive again after His crucifixion carrying the weight of a new government on His shoulders. That government—the Kingdom of His Father—is expanding across the earth and in the hearts of men and women, no matter where they live. And in both safety and peril, the reign of Jesus brings peace.
In the midst of the turmoil of 2015, Muslims are more open to the Gospel than ever before. We can prayerfully expect that the harvests of 2016 will bear much fruit!
Houda, Melissa, and I laughed at each other’s lettuce-filled faces that New Year’s Eve. When Melissa and I went home that night, we prayed together and dreamed, under the shots of gunfire, of what it would look like in Iraq when Jesus Christ brings the fullness of His peace.
Whatever 2016 brings, we will feast on the eternal joy of Jesus’ Kingdom of Peace and rejoice as hearts turn to the Messiah. We will wave the banner of the Good News of His Word as true hope for the nations raging in vain and for the lost people of the earth.
**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names have been changed for security.**
Original article: FrontiersUSA.org/blog/article/lettuce-welcome-the-new-year
