‘Soul Stories’ – Contribution by Revd Mark Robinson

In the vibrant streets of Brazil, amid the rhythmic nuances of languages and cultures, Tessa – my spouse, and I found ourselves at a small café. We were drawn to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling strongly with the warm Jaragua do Sul breeze. It was there, in the heart of that city, that my spiritual journey took an unexpected turn. You see, I had felt a call to serve God very early on in my life, which, now looking back, I seemingly felt no urgency to answer, but there in the heart of that city, I was gifted with an urgent realisation that I needed to answer that call.

As we sat talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company, I could see a street child approaching the café, and with a hesitant smile, eyes reflecting a world of hardship and uncertainty he spoke to the café owner. Although his words were too low for me to hear, his silent plea for help echoed loudly. Yet, before I could grasp the depth of his plight, the café owner shooed him away, jolting me and leaving me to ponder the encounter.

In those fleeting moments, God’s whisper resonated within me, urging me to heed the call of compassion and justice. It had suddenly become a call I could no longer ignore, a call to bridge the gap between privilege and poverty, between comfort and chaos.

Tessa was facing me so she did not see the exchange, and I told her what I had seen. We immediately left the café in search of the child, and found him in the shadows of the city, beneath the arches of a bridge, in fact, we encountered another manifestation of injustice – his entire family were living under that bridge. They were indigenous to the Amazon and had been displaced and marginalised, and their story unfolded before us, a narrative of struggle and survival in the face of ruthless exploitation.

Although my grasp of the Portuguese language was limited at that time, I understood the universal language of suffering and oppression. In their eyes, I saw reflections of my own brokenness, and through the actions of the café owner, I saw how easy it was to be, and to become caught in the complicity of systems of injustice.

It was in those moments of encounter that God’s call became unmistakably clear – to pursue relationships grounded in justice, mercy, and humility, and the call I heard and continued to hear became clearer to me. I believe, we, by ‘we’ I mean, all of God’s people, are called to confront the powers that perpetuate suffering and division.

On that day, I saw what embracing this call would mean. It meant confronting my own brokenness, acknowledging the ways in which I might be contributing to the unbalanced state of the world. Healing begins with a gaze upon the symbol of our brokenness – the cross. The healing I did not know I needed, had begun.

In the crucified Christ, I was able to see the embodiment of God’s radical love, a love that knows no bounds and spares no expense. I saw Jesus’ outstretched arms beckoning me to embrace my own crosses, and to confront the injustices that crucify God’s people, daily.

And so, my spiritual journey became intertwined with a vocational calling – a calling to be an agent of reconciliation and renewal in a world groaning under the weight of its brokenness. It was a journey marked by both challenge and grace, by moments of doubt and moments of profound revelation.

Yet through it all, my faith held fast, and still remains, even when there are moments of lack of clarity and dimness. And I hold on to, and take forward with me, the word of the prophet Micah, which reminds me of my sacred duty – to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.

As I continue to navigate the complexities of life and faith, I seek always to recognise the movements of the call – which move me to build bridges of compassion and understanding, and to stand in solidarity with the marginalised and oppressed.

This is how I bear witness to the transformative power of God’s love, which is a love in action that moves through history – a love that transcends language, culture, and circumstance.