This month we have the blessing of living with our whole squad in Palacagüina, Nicaragua. Our team does ministry together throughout the week and joins the whole squad on Fridays.
Today, we piled on a school bus and headed to our ministry for the day. We were in a rural area with tight turns and little to no road. A couple guys hopped off the bus to level a tree and move boulders out of the road so our bus could pass. We soon arrived to the site and were told we’d be leveling land and building a road for a new campus of Universidad Martin Lutero, a large Christian university.
I volunteered to be on the road clearing crew. We were tasked with clearing rocks from the road, using them to build up an area that washes away, clearing rocks, smoothing the road and clearing rocks. Did I mention we cleared rocks?
About two hours in, our team of 15ish dwindled to just the two of us. We continued working away and clearing the rocks. There was so much yet to be done. It was hot. The sun was beating down on us. I was slightly frustrated that our help had left, but more frustrated that the task was unfinished. I quickly checked my attitude and relied on this verse for my strength:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive and inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
I realized that my thoughts had strayed from this simple principle. Everything I do is for the Lord. It’s not for my human master or earthly boss. It’s not for Universidad Martin Lutero. It’s not for my husband, my team, my squad or The World Race. It’s for the Lord.
I soon found out that the others had been told the road was fine and that’s why they had deserted us. I looked at the road and still saw so much more that could be done to improve it. There were no other tasks that needed to be done, so we headed back to the road. My earthly boss had said it was “fine” but I came here to work for the Lord. I was stumped. What does that even look like??
Then I remembered something I’d read earlier this week.
Whatever our work looks like…we ask the Spirit to bless us with creativity, composure, inspiration, love. Kahlil Gilbran said, “Work is love made visible”; what if we approached work as an opportunity to show love? To our coworkers, those we serve, our children, to our students…visible love is possible if we work mindfully as carriers of the sweet Spirit of Christ…Together, we ask Jesus to bless our hands and reveal the sacredness of our work, inviting the Spirit to breathe fresh wind into our tasks.
“Seven” by Jen Hatmaker
EVERYTHING I do is an opportunity to love. When I haul water to mix with dirt we made out of the side of a mountain to build an abode house, it’s an opportunity to love. When I use a machete and my bare hands to cut down cactus so my team can make a fence for the local school, it’s an opportunity to love. When I pick up trash along the side of the road, it’s an opportunity to love. When I use my broken Spanish to help our team communicate with Brother David, it’s an opportunity to love. When I clear rocks out of the street, it’s an opportunity to love.
So, I worked LOVED for the Lord. What does that look like? I determined to make that ridiculously rocky road suitable for my barefoot Savior to walk on because “fine” wasn’t good enough. Otherwise, Jesus was gonna get cut. Soon others joined in, the Spirit breathed fresh wind into the task and that road looks incredible. I could not possibly be more bummed that I neglected to get a before and after picture.
How can you work for the Lord? What opportunities to love are you missing?
Psalm 90:17
