My Beloved,
So you thought you finally escaped this plan I have for you ? Oh My Sweet Child.
Do you remember hearing about Project Searchlight over two years ago ? It crossed your path and you glared in annoyance, seeing it as nothing more than a shady and unexplained extra fee onto the already-more-expensive route. When you thought of it through the stages of your first squad, the deferral, your new squad, the seasons within the race itself – you regarded PSL with disdain and fear.
But then I surprised you. Plans changed and you were homeward bound. Month eleven rolled to a close on my beautiful beaches in Rio and you were so apprehensive toward returning home, leaving the family I surrounded you with this past year. I gave you a home, a community rich with laughter, accountability and love as a reflection, a mere fraction of my love for you.
So you gave PSL a shot. I remember you, hands twisting anxiously and starting to sweat as you and Eric rolled up to Adventures in Missions headquarters. You were so nervous they would see an ugly change in you, see how defeated you believed yourself to be after your home identity and race identity clashed.
But as quickly as your apprehensions had appeared, they dissipated as your squad surged together one by one by one, pulled to each other like magnets across a table. They still loved you all the same ; because of your brokenness, not despite it. Just as I love you, for the same reasons.
I laugh when I think about how many projected expectations you had for this week ! You saw a glorified reunion, nothing more than a waste of time, money and energy. Yet from the first hug to the first tear, the first message and first worship session, I was there. You felt My Presence in a way you couldn’t ignore. Session after session, you watched as my disciples poured into my children who poured into my students who poured into my teachers.
You saw strangers sacrificing their comfort and time and space to choose YOU to give you practical steps for re-entry, building community wherever you are, dying to self in a self-indulgent society, finding your calling, tapping into the prophetic – but it didn’t end there ! In your vulnerability, you gave Me space to have My Way and I was as I always Am : FAITHFUL. I gave you opportunities to lead worship, pray for strangers, share words with the masses. I filled you up with swimming and music and conversations. I rekindled your hope. I reminded you of my truth about my children and who I say I am.
I reactivated your identity so you could reclaim it, My Sweet Daughter. I know you felt less significant, unworthy when you returned home ; thinking your impact in the Kingdom had shifted just because your circumstances and locations had.
In your fear, you turned from My Voice and let an older version of you fight for control. You came face to face with yourself and our past, warring against the chains we have broken and the lies we have dispelled. And because you wouldn’t hear ME fighting for you, I gave you people to do it to your face. Your squad, your family fought for you every step of the way. The leadership and staff has fought for you with every breath.
And, during a week you saw as a time waster, you had the choice to waste our time or to press in and fight for freedom alongside 200 other brothers and sisters. My Darling Corrie, you have taken this opportunity and poured in the way that I have poured out to you ; recklessly and with your whole heart – and because of it, we celebrate another victory today.
I love you, My Chosen, My Decorated Daughter !
Yours [Literally] Forever,
Jesus
