Training camp was amazing. There are no words to describe the love that grew in my heart for the squad mates who will share in this journey with me. There are no words to describe the way our Father embraced our hearts and reminded us we belong to Him. There are no words for the prayer, the worship, the freedom, and the healing that happened as the children of God came together in His Name.
But the last thing I did at training camp wasn’t all that uncommon, or unique, or spiritual, really. In fact, it was most likely something that you have done at least once this past year…
…clean the bathroom.
This wasn’t your typical household bathroom, either. If you’re picturing a small building with a tin roof, wooden-slatted floor and buckets in each curtain-divided stall, you’re on the right path.
For ten days, my sisters and I laughed and shivered and sang as we took turns pouring cups of cold water over our heads and tried not to look at the spiders staring us down in the corners of our stalls. Inevitably, various shower items accidentally fell through the wooden slats. At the end of training camp, a few of us were commissioned to gather up those stray items for the trash.
Travel shampoo bottles, shavers, and a couple tissues – those weren’t so bad. But when my hand brushed against a slimy unknown substance, the “I’m-not-sure-I-can-do-this!” thought jumped into my head.
Thank you, wet bar of soap – you led me to my first crossroads on this race.
Okay, Self. I thought. You can choose to complain, gag, get frustrated… or you can choose to thank and praise your Father.
Miraculously, I chose to sing. Softly, at first, and then with a bit more spirit. Looking back, I realize I was praising the One who holds every moment of our lives in His hands… including the less-presentable ones!
As I continued to pick up trash and sing, this quote came to mind:
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me” (Jesus, Matthew 25:40).
Our squad may be faced with many similar crossroads – and similar decisions to make – in each country we live and serve in this year. Father, help us to be willing to walk into the messy, dark corners where lies have made themselves at home.
Please help us to take courage,
to gently remove the dirt and the grime,
and graciously to leave Your life and light in our wake.
Amen.
