At the start of our race we were each given a key with a word on it. The keys had been prayed over by a man named Austin who had done the race in the past. He calls them “Keys for the Journey,” and he gives them to us as prophetic words to investigate during our journey. Meaning he has prayed over these keys and believes that God can teach us something through the word. A prophetic word in this case is simply a word that you can take to God and see if he has anything to teach you through it. The word on my key was, “Lion.”
On the race I have been learning that worship comes in many forms. Lately one way that I have been doing this is through poetry. I have been doing a lot of research into the biblical use of the word lion, seeking out what it symbolizes, and looking into its habits and behaviors. I took all of this to God and ended up writing a free verse poem about what I believe it means to walk out my Christian faith as a lion.
Lion
What does it mean to be a lion?
A lion is a symbol of strength, courage, and leadership.
A lion represents both good and evil things in the world.
It is used in reference to both God and Satan.
What does it mean to be a lion?
A lion is a creature of pursuit.
It is a creature of pride,
And one that knows the necessity of teamwork.
The lion values family and is affectionate toward loved ones.
What does it mean to be a lion?
Lions are respected by some but hunted by others.
They are majestic yet terrifying.
Their roar can be heard from over five miles away,
But rarely do they speak out.
What does it mean to be a lion?
To me it means walking humbly with my God.
It means being bold when asked to step out.
It means having the inner strength to be vulnerable.
It means having the courage to share with brothers and sisters.
It means waiting for God to call upon me to use the talents He has given.
It means being a leader through how I live and fiercely pursuing Him.
Artwork drawn by my squadmate, Arielle Stuart.
I thought it paired perfectly with my poem. To me this drawing holds two meanings. The first, I believe the mountains and trees represent adventure. The lion represents the boldness in which I seek to share my faith while on adventure. The second, I see the trees and mountains as a representation of home and being with family in the Ozarks of Arkansas. The lion in this case represents the way my family is centered on God.
