We started month 9 in our third and final teams for the World Race. It’s been about a week on Baby Aslan, and I already have so much to say about these wonderful women of God: Alison, Amy, Julia, Laiken, Sarah, and Shelby.
[a not-terrible photo is yet to come]
One thing that’s always a little confusing from the outside is our team names, so I wanted to explain how we chose ours: We didn’t. Actually, our insanely creative squad leaders held a sorting hat ceremony to announce our team changes. One by one we sat on a stool and let the “sorting hat” tell us whether we would be joining Baby Aslan, Gigglehops, Sneaky Snakes, or Bird Fingers. (This is super entertaining if you’re a Harry Potter person. If not, I’m only a little bit sorry.)
When it came time for us to meet together for the first time as a team, we agreed right away: We’re keeping the name. First of all, it’s adorable. Second of all, we can’t wait to watch Narnia. Third, we get to call ourselves B.A.’s for short. Sold.
Also—we should have known all the redheads on the squad would be in Gryffindor. You never did see a Weasley sporting Ravenclaw robes, now did you?
Our first team coffee date just affirmed our Baby Aslan identities more and more. We spoke about things we wanted for our team, for the next three months, for ourselves. We spat out C.S. Lewis quotes and marveled, in unison, at how much they resonated with what we’re doing spending 11 months in the mission field.
This one, in particular, struck month-9-me:
“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”
“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.
“Are -are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.
“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
? C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
We only have three months left on the field, but we’re by no means close to the end. This mission isn’t ending, and a new one isn’t starting. The mission has been and always will be the same: to know and share the love of Jesus.
We’re stepping into this team ready to help one another for month 12, and month 48, and month 573. We have so much we can learn from one another in the time we have together, and so much we can carry with us wherever He leads us next.
I could try to explain all that we talked about that afternoon, or to replicate the hilarity of hearing Amy uncomfortably call us lionesses (because it makes us sound “prowly”) but instead I’ll leave you with the vision for Baby Aslan.
To empower and edify one another as lionesses by stepping into new gifts, sharing and teaching the Lord’s passions in us, and resting in the bravery that comes from the Lord when he calls us to the unknown and unsafe for the sake of the Kingdom.
