Garbage Warrior is a full length documentary I came across this weekend. The film stars architect Michael Reynolds who has a dream to build sustainable housing that doesn’t need expensive technology or utilities. These are not the type of homes you will find in your newest subdivision, but the construction of the house allows it to heat itself, use rain for most water needs, cools itself, and recycles its own wastes.
The problem Reynolds ran into is that these homes didn’t meet the standards for the state of New Mexico. They were threatening to shut down everything he was trying to accomplish. In order to live in these homes he was building and to keep his architect license, he had to comply with a slew of codes and requirements that cost thousands and thousands of dollars. During this time, Reynolds learned the Andaman Islands were almost destroyed by the Indian Ocean Earthquake of 2004 and resulting in a 33 ft. high tsunami. This is where Reynolds and his team were able to jump into action and help a desperate population of people who had virtually no shelter.
On this island there were no codes or requirements, this unique team of builders were able to build and teach the residents how to build homes which would be self-sustaining. For example, before the tsunami, the island used wells for water. The salt water from the tsunami ruined all the wells, but Reynolds and his team built the houses in such a way that the islanders would be able to use the over 100 inches of rainfall they receive annually to provide their water needs.
Okay, its taken me three paragraphs to communicate my point and how this movie stirred my thoughts toward ministry. Are there “codes and requirements” that we put on ourselves and those involved in ministry, church, etc. that keep us from providing for and helping those who desperately need to hear the gospel and have a relationship with the God of the universe?
Reynolds and his team just needed the opportunity to provide for those in need without any type of restrictions. They were able to concern themselves only with results on the Andaman Islands.
I’m still processing this. It could be just a morning ramble on too much coffee or maybe there’s something there that I can apply to what we do at SFA.
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