In Omnia Paratus – a latin phrase meaning “Ready for anything”
All of my Gilmore fans out there will recognize it as the motto for Yale’s Life and Death Brigade but in the last month it has taken on a much more personal meaning in my life.
It began back in Guyana a month ago in the throws of knowing that at any given moment we might be asked to share our testimony. Or give a teaching. Or lead worship. Or do prayer teams. Or put on a skit. All of this with little to no preparation time, and time and time again the results were astoundingly beautiful. That Holy Spirit, man… He really knows what He’s doing.
This is the life of a missionary: ready for anything.
So easily we can categorize ourselves into ministries suited to our gifts and comfort zones: “We’re a teaching team,” “We’re a music team,” “We’re a medical team,” “We’re a drama team.” But this is not our call nor is it anywhere near the heart of missionary work.
It’s not about only serving in your favorite areas of ministry. Quite frankly, it’s not even about your skill set. It’s not about YOU.
It is about what they need, not what you want to give them.
But it is also about what God wants from you, what He wants to show you.
I was ready for the sweat, the bug bites, the long hours, all types of ministry being thrown my way… but, there was one thing I wasn’t ready for.
Slowing down.
My idea of mission, and really life in general, is go hard all the time. In the words of my dear Ms. Frizzle, “Take chances! Make mistakes! Get messy!” I was ready to get my hands dirty, really put my back into it, but then God goes and tells me to rest and receive. The nerve of that Guy! Doesn’t He understand that mission is all out all the time? But here we are, month 3, and I feel like I’m doing NOTHING!
But isn’t that kinda the point?
HE is doing the work. HE is changing hearts. HE is guiding our steps. In reality, I’m just along for the ride.
He is showing me a couple different things in this time of living at a slower pace. First, that He values me just as much as the people I am here to serve. He wants me to rest. He wants me to have fun. He wants me to enjoy this adventure with Him. Second, life is mission. Relationships are mission. Kindness is mission. Making friends with the kids living on the boat with me builds His kingdom with their smiles. Joking around with the people helping the obviously confused white girls builds His kingdom in our laughter.
Now, this doesn’t mean we should just thrown on our sunglasses and coast through the next 8 months. When He provides us with ministry hosts and tasks, like aiding the free clinics in the villages or teaching English in the barrio, those are the opportunities to go all in and labor for love. But to embrace each step of the journey and watch how just doing normal life is for His glory changes everything.
