In the middle of a quiet and relaxing time spent with family at my aunt and uncle’s home last weekend, my mom and I stayed up late watching a movie (one of the things we do best). It happened to be The Help, one of my favorites of all time, and at the very end Aibileen Clark says something that washed over me in a fresh way this time, though I’ve heard it multiple times before:
“No one had ever asked me what it feel like to be me. Once I told the truth about that, I felt free.”
I often tell people that I cry in a new place every time I watch this movie, and that’s quite honestly the truth, but this line is one that really cut me to the core and reminded me of what I hope the legacy of my life will be.
For those who are curious, the past month has consisted of my 10 days of training (where I was able to be immersed in spiritual and physical preparation for the Race), Super Summer (a week of camp in Brownwood, TX with some youth), PowerPlus Camp at Pineywoods Encampment with my youth, and now this week of Vacation Bible School teaching fifth graders at my church, Columbus Avenue Baptist. I love to be busy, and this summer has certainly kept me that way, but it’s been amazing that even in the middle of what I thought would be weeks of only pouring out to the students I have the privilege of working with, God has consistently filled me up with good, good words and encouragement as well.
It has come through the speakers at the camps, my close friends, my students, and so many others in my life that I have absorbed new wisdom and old reminders of what my life should look like as I pursue following Christ and loving people.
So, in this busyness, I could let my life be defined by that. I love to be involved in everything, and I am often prone to define myself my what I do instead of who I am in Christ (this could be a whole other blog altogether). Instead, however, I am learning to earnestly pray to only be defined by who I am in Christ and by the love I give to the people around me. I believe one of the absolute best ways we can show love is through letting people tell their stories.
There are so, so many people who, like Aibileen, have never had anyone ask, “What’s it like to be you?” Oh, what a world of difference that simple question would make to those who are hurting, who are weary, who are oppressed! And we don’t have far to look for someone who needs to hear this. Sometimes it’s your best friend who’s just like you. Sometimes it’s the neighbor with whom you have a wide generational gap. Sometimes it’s someone on the other side of the world who raises a family on her own in the poorest of slums. Sometimes you may even need to hear it yourself.
As I prepare to travel all over the world, I deeply yearn for the opportunity to be present to hear others tell me their stories and feel freedom and love from doing so. Then, I also pray that I might be able to share my own- how my story has been rescued and freed by the Lord and Savior who died once and for all and conquered death for us to be reunited forever.
This is my call, and I’m so grateful God reminded me of it through camps, people, and The Help. May I always further the Kingdom through sharing the Gospel with words and showing the Gospel with love.
