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Recently I just finished a book entitled, “The Power of a
Whisper� by Bill Hybels. It’s a fantastic book that really challenged me to
tune my ear to heaven and strive to live each day listening and responding to
the Holy Spirit’s whispers in my life. If you get a chance I highly recommend
picking up the book and giving it a read.

In the book he uses many stories to illustrate how listening
to God’s whispers can be life changing, and even life saving for marriages,
parent-child relationships, church successes, avoiding financial ruin etc… every
story he shared struck a chord in me, but this next one was especially moving.

On a trip to a poverty stricken area of the world he recalls
seeing a food line of children and one particular boy caught his eye. He was
smaller than the rest and evidenced by his bloated belly and discolored hair he
was in dire need of food. He gradually would inch his way forward in the line,
only to reach the front and be pushed away by the bigger kids, so he would
obediently get back in line and begin toddling towards the front once again. Hybels
says that in that moment he was struck with the reality of this child’s
situation, and how greatly it contrasted with his comfortable hotel room, the
suburban home full of food that he had waiting for him upon his return home. He
thought to himself, “What would it take for ME to voluntarily live in that
kid’s skin for a YEAR?�

The reality of his honest answer was there wasn’t enough
money in the world to make him do that. As I read these words it started
sinking into my mind, neither would I, yes I just spent a year living out of a
backpack, bathing with a bucket, and going to the bathroom on the side of buses
while being incredible uncomfortable due to cultural differences and living
with a team that now knows me better than I know myself, however, I always had
clothing, I always had food (be it very little or gross tasting- it was always
there), I was almost always treated with respect and hospitality…I had it GOOD
this year, seriously!

Hybels goes on with an even more sobering thought that cut
straight through my heart and soul. He said, “Jesus Chris willingly and
willfully wrapped himself in human skin and walked this planet- no for ONE year
but for THIRTY THREE years. He was scorned, misunderstood, rebuked, and
routinely wronged. And yet he chose to do it anyway. He relinquished the
adoration of the angels in order to accomplish his Father’s purpose in his
life.�(Philippians 2:6-8)

The reason this resonated to deeply in me today I believe is
because my Race is coming to a close. I’ve been processing what it will be like
to go home and try to describe all of my experiences and stories with those I
love in America. I’ve found myself thinking they’ll never get how “difficult�
it was this year, how many living situations were tough, and food gross…and
then Hybels throws this curve ball, and I hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “so
what?! You gave a year of your life to live in abandonment, the story is not
over my dear, you do not need to paint the picture for those at home, simply
share of my goodness and I’ll take care of the rest.� My heart is restless, I
want more. Christ didn’t just give a year to trade places with an orphan, he
set aside his “rights� as God of universe, and lived as a MAN, then he became
obedient to DEATH, the worst kind of death, death on a CROSS. If my heart’s cry
truly is to live as Jesus lived then this year is simply the beginning, I’m not
saying I’m supposed to sell all I have and live the same as an orphan in
Africa, but I am saying that the lifestyle of service and selflessness that
I’ve had engrained in me this year is going to continue even when I step on
American soil. My hearts desire is to chase after God’s heart, listen for the
whispers from His Spirit, and obediently follow whatever they say. I challenge
anyone reading this to do the same, what do you have to lose?

Matthew 16:24 (The Message)
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to
come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.
Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.
Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to
finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get
everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?