“Why does he love her?” I asked the young Karen girl who sat before me reading Tattercoats, a French rendition of the Cinderella story.
“Not for her clothes,” she said, “but for her heart,” and she just looked at me seeking a head nod of approval as if what she had said was simply the obvious answer.
I sat in amazement. Such a profound understanding from a young girl, reading and speaking in her third language!
World racers might laugh reading this same book. Thinking, praise Jesus! I have a chance! A primary concern of many pre-launch racers is how one is to pack clothes for a year worth of season changes in one pack. How often will we be able to shower? How often can we wash clothes? Do clothes ever really get clean when you wash them in a bucket?
Abundance verses affluence will be one of the first lessons God will throw at you on the race. Sometimes in non-sealant ways, such as your bus driver literally throwing your abundance to you! My teammates will often point out to me that my pack is quite light! Yet, to me, it is too much. I am reminded of all the stuff I keep on me for the precautionary. Such as three quarter link shirts for when we reach Japan in two months, the tennis shoes I have only worn once, the pair of shorts that are above my knees, that extra pair of tights, the sketch book and art supplies I have used once or twice. We live in the precautionary. We live so often wondering, what if. Yet, God clearly states that if he provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field that he will then provide for us.
We live wanting more. Feeling that to exist at our fullest potential we must dress a certain way, or own certain things. Even racers leave feeling that they need to bring their computer. Yet, the disciples left with only the clothes on their backs never looking back. God chose them not for their clothes, but for their heart.
Here is the best part! Their hearts were not perfect. The demons recognized that Christ was the messiah before the disciples. They made mistakes, and didn’t always follow the guidance of their teacher. Yet, Christ used them, and all the rags they bore, because he saw who they were created to be, and sought to bring that out in them. He sought to critique and encourage both their flaws and their skills, so that they would bring glory to his name.
This year, God wants to teach you to live in his abundance and to be aware of the abundance he has already given you. You might think I am only talking to racers, but this is for you too. See God loves you, fights for you, stands for you, and died for you not for your clothes, but for your heart.
“Why did you choose this book?” I asked the young girl.
“It’s my favorite!” she expressed with much excitement. “Because she is like me!”
