Six handwritten letters written to a perfect stranger brought tears to my eyes this very morning.
On the World Race people who choose to follow the same route are placed on a “Squad”. After a squad is established our leadership places us on teams. We have very little control over who we live and spend every breathing second with.
The beginning of May came with team changes on the World Race. My new team’s name is Fire Followers, named after the name of a flower that comes to life after a cruel and devastating fire. Fire Followers bring life where there was death and destruction.
Like I said this team was put together in May, but it wasn’t until this morning that I realized that this team was not only a set of now familiar faces but a body that was willing to hold up my arms in battle, to fight for and alongside me.
Before I explain how that happened, let me catch you up on a few things. My month in Panama, better known as month four on the race, came with a series of unsettling news from back home. So many things were changing and occurring that I honestly have no control over. But that may be a whole other blog.
One of the things I learned was that a dear friend of mine was in jail and facing serving time in prison because of a manipulative government.
All of this happening back home and here I was so many miles away unable to visit or be there for her. I thought of writing her a letter but I couldn’t even imagine what I would say. I didn’t want to feed her a ton of “Christianeese” when I genuinely have no clue what she is going through. How do I tell her to have joy when I have never been in jail? How do I tell her to trust in God when it probably feels like he’s abandoned her? How do I encourage and love her, how?
Yesterday my team began reading and studying the book of Philippians where Paul writes a letter to the church in Philippi while he is in prison. One of the main themes of this book of the Bible is joy in suffering.
This morning I could not focus. My mind was at odds, struggling to be present during our study. I was fighting to be engaged but I simply couldn’t. I could not help but think of my friend who is in similar conditions to Paul.
I could not hold it “together” any longer and shared my distracted mind to the Fire Followers. I shared, although wondering if they would judge me. Thinking I am not Godly because I couldn’t focus, rude for not paying attention, or just plain weird.
I shared with them about my friend and this urge I kept having to leave our Bible Study and write my friend a letter.
Let me tell you what they didn’t do: they didn’t judge me, or consider me rude or label me weird. Instead, you know that they did?
They asked if they could also write my friend a letter.
Tear drop.
I mean, WOW! Just WOW!! They not only listened to what I had to say, but rejoiced and delighted in joining me where my heart was.
So now, my journal contains 7 letters one from each member of my team. 6 of them written to a stranger in the great state of Alaska. After reading each of their letters it’s almost incorrect to say they wrote it to a stranger because their letters are written with such love as to a sister, their sister in Christ.
Thank you team. Thank you Fire Followers. Thank you for loving me well. For loving my friend well. For bringing life where I saw none. Thank you for being women of God ready to exhort and build the body. I love each and everyone of you. Thank you; dog pile tonight???
