What would you say if I told you, that 1 bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide has the ability to unite and bring 8 men together and bond? You might say what!? To which I would respond, it doesn’t but God used it to do that very thing. See that one bottle alone, served a greater purpose than medicine. It served a divine purpose that will allow 8 men to rememeber the moments spent together, and how God’s plan will be apart of their lives forever, based off of those moments.
It all started the day after we arrived in Lesotho for Manistry Month. Some of our guys were having some issues walking, because their toes were infected by something. One of the guys actually mentioned how this was a good thing for him. He said that he felt that he was not as close with God and had fallen behind on spending time with him and this infected toe was being used by God to slow him down and actually be with him. Whatever the reason for this issue, I personally am grateful that it happened. Why you may ask? Because for the first couple of nights every night we would gather in our room, and because of being a nurse assistant and actually knowing how to handle this, I had the materials needed to help with the situation. But even more so, it allowed us to actually sit and talk about life, and give life to one another. We talked about economics (well those interested in it), we shared some life experiences that were hilarious, and some people were able to play card games. All of this may seem like nothing or even a small menial thing, but truthfully, us as guys on this squad needed this. We needed to come together and be with each other. We needed to be united and actually know one another. We needed relationship and and a sense of brotherhood.
Yall, its been hard to be honest, especially as guys on this squad. Before these moments, we were not as close as we are becoming. We knew of each other but we were not as united. We were not actually pouring into each other as a whole unit of men spiritually. It was also difficult, not having much male leadership pouring into us. But you know what guys? I would not trade any of it, because a Good God gave us this opportunity to pour into each other and develop us to be the Spiritually sound and leading Men he wants and desires us to be. We had been given the gift and opportunity to learn to be the male leaders that we crave in our own lives and live that out to those around us, including each other.
If you would have told me this 7 months ago, before the race, I probably would have had a different mindset that would have been looking forward to this month, rather than actually not wanting it to happen. However, these moments, guys, are the ones that I am grateful for, because God showed me the importance of being united as men, and receiving from one another to help later on in life. Even if I don’t take everything that I am encountering from these guys (which will probably be the case), the things I do take will be worth it. Through this, I have come to see the need for Men to actually be Men and give to one another and learn from each other. I see the need for Men to be firm in what is true, but live that truth out in the way of love, not of themselves but of God and others and actually take ownership of their lives and lead. And all of these things were revealed by God through 1 bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide and a bunch of infected toes.
Yall, I want to end by telling you about each guy I am with and how each one truly defines what it means to be a man. Cameron: strength, not physically, but strength in his convictions and what is true. He can give this to other Men to help them stay rooted and established in what is going to glorify and love God as well as help them see one of the ways a man is defined as a man. Clayton: integrity, and honoring. Despite what goes on he stays true to the character of God and serves in a way that is honorable. He can give this to other men to remind them that as an image of Christ who walks with the integrity of the Father, we should do the same thus making us be the godly Men we were created to be. Zach: Compassion. Yes being a man means to be compassionate, for even Jesus himself looked at people with compassion and met them where they were and brought kingdom, righteousness, and truth to them. He is able to give this to other men as a means to remind men that relationship and heart, leads to transformation and kingdom impact, thus allowing man to fulfill what was commanded and make disciples and meet needs for the glory of God. Michael: faithfulness, to God and others around him. As a man who is faithful to the one who is faithful to him, it gives a powerful testimony of actual life and what it is intended to be like. He can give this to other men, as a means to show them that faithfulness carries influence and activates divine authority and the realization that man needs the one who created them, thus defining a man as one who trust in someone other than himself who is all powerful.
Matt: protector, the man who fights for and stands behind and in front of and beside those that need someone to do that for them occcassionally. He can give this to other Men and remind them to stand up for someone other than themselves and do what is just and right by them, and look out for and care for all those who have life. Anthony: Order. God is also a father who has structure and order, in order to keep life possible, and Anthony does just that. He can give this to other Men and remind them that order keeps life together and and allows for peace. It also reminds Men that we are defined as ones who were made to rule. Lastly, Mike: Life. He literally lives life and gives life to others he comes into contact with. He can give this to other Men and remind them that being a Man means to live and experience and fight for life for all regardless of who it is. It also reminds other Men to give the Life that has been given in Christ which is actual life.
These are some of the definitions of what it means to be a man, from Men who are able to be the men they were created to be and lead others to do the same in Christ.
Sincerely,
Your fellow Man
Dyl
