Falling in love with God’s people is kinda what we do. We are told to love earnestly with a pure heart. Earnestly – showing sincere and intense conviction. We want to get past the “Hello” and “How do you do?” – or in the present circumstance – “Hola” y “Come estas?” The Lord made and loves community. He designed the Body to grow and live and be together. God gives us more than divine intimacy with Him while we’re here on earth. He offers the gift of being intricately connected with other people and believers around the world.
I was thinking about this just the other day. It’s great! One of the best things I’ve received the past 2 years as I’ve grown is a better appreciation and understanding of community and loving others.
But we leave.
11 months on the World Race you fall for and leave 11 different sets of contacts, friends, and places. It’s hard. Throughout the 10 months I’ve been back in the states the trend kinda continued. I started in Michigan before moving to Georgia but ended up traveling all over again anyway. I don’t think I had an entire month where I would stay in one single state. I was in and out. Even though each time I spent with friends – whether it be a week serving at training camp or an hour talking in a parking lot – was its own divine appointment, it was hard. Because eventually I had to leave.
And I’m doing it again. In 16 days our team will leave the people of Candelaria, Nicaragua to begin new ministry in Guatemala till the end of July. We love it here. And deep within me I was thinking of how I could prepare myself for the next 6 months of my life which will include a lot of loving and leaving once again. It hurts. So, why?
I shared this with my girls the other day and Rebekah returned to me later with some hope and truth.
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. [Philippians 1:3-8]
She explained how she could read Paul’s words saying, “It’s OK. We’re going to miss people.” This comforted my heart a bit seeing how Paul kinda did the same thing as we are – traveling and going where the Lord leads while intentionally loving people along the way without reserve.
What did Paul do about it? Rebekah continued to break it down for me: he wrote them, thanked God for them, prayed for them, encouraged them, shared life with them, and kept up with them. Paul developed lasting relationships with them for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Just because we are away from family and friends doesn’t make them less of who they are in our lives. Through prayers and encouragement and blessings I try to remind people of the amazing ways they’ve inspired and touched my life. The same continues with the smiles I’ve met around the world. Through and in these relationships its God Who gives you a strong heart. A growing heart. Maybe that’s where the difficulty and pain comes into this – they’re simply growing pains as our hearts are expanding to love as Christ loves.
I’m learning a lot here. And was super glad Rebekah dove into this for me as we were trying to figure out the purpose of loving and leaving. Your thoughts?
