In an old Besser block hall, with an unreliable evaporative cooler struggling against the heat of the desert sun, young feet walk off the streets and onto grimy tiles. Inside this grotty drop-in space they feel safe, and are respected. Neither of those things can be taken for granted in their daily experience. These are the young people at the centre of the recent Royal Commission into Youth and Children in Detention in the Northern Territory. The grief and trauma of their lives are like valleys they can’t escape. Hope seems like an unattainable mountain-top experience. The path to that place seems so difficult most don’t even bother to think about it, let alone try. Yet, somehow, hope has to begin in the valley.

I’ve seen hope awaken. It is a beautiful thing to witness. And when hope emerges from the heart of despair it truly is an unexpected beauty.

One morning, I was showing two visitors around the church precinct which also forms the town centre of Alice Springs, our iconic outback town. They were interested in checking us out, hearing our story and possibly joining our church community. I walked them over to see our drop-in, known as ‘The Meeting Place’. As we went to unlock the doors and enter the building a couple of young people who attend the drop-in came up: “Can we come in?,” they asked. “Well, we don’t have any volunteers around at the moment so I can’t open the drop-in right now,“ I replied. “That’s ok, can we have a glass of water, we’ll go after that.” “Sure,” I said, thinking I probably could manage to get them to leave – once kids are in they like to stay! Just as I opened the door my two young friends pushed through and, to my surprise, took over proceedings. Turning to the visitors they said: “Welcome! This is The Meeting Place. This our place. Do you want a glass of water?”

Here were some of the most marginalized young people in the country offering welcome and hospitality to strangers. In a place they knew was theirs. Such unexpected beauty! This is the Glory of God revealed: the beauty of broken young lives transformed, walking a straight path, their inner beauty, strengths, and capacities coming to light.

God reshapes the world from the bottom up; from the hearts and places that need healing. Out of that reshaping comes all kinds of beauty. In that old hall, despite the general grottiness, one of the walls has been transformed by a large mural. It is a thing of beauty painted by the young people themselves, with the help of the skills of community members willing to share their gifts. It is a proud statement of Aboriginal presence. Over the ochre and beside the Aboriginal flag are painted the words ‘Apmere’ and ‘Ngurra’: Arrernte and Pitjatjantjara words for ‘home.’ That is what the young people call this old church hall. With their beautiful painting and words truly the Kingdom breaks in. The dawn of advent is present. An unexpected beauty shines.

The whole town knows about this ‘Meeting Place’, debates the wisdom of supporting Aboriginal teenagers who are usually seen as ‘the problem’, cheers it on, wants to partner with us. But we, who have heard the words,

‘Comfort, O Comfort my people, says your God, speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid’

We will stand with the poor, expecting the coming of God, and praising him for the unexpected beauty his presence awakens.

Look for him.