Tears
After packing up my life and leaving home, the tears have been thick. Especially as the goodbyes have been so thick and heavy, the tears from my friends and family draw even more out. Then I see the sadness in this world and the pain we feel here and wonder, what is the point? Why are we meant to cry? There is a sweet baby named Oliver who is fighting for his life and I have faith he will prevail. His strength is proof there is a will to survive that we are just born with; a God given ability to endure. These tears are proof of that, but more than that. They are proof of a love we can hardly comprehend; a love that we are all united together in. The tears of longing and sadness are formed out of the same love that brings joy and contentment. I know this because they both come from the same God who IS love. And I know Him. And knowing Him is how I also know these tears are not cried in vain. He sees them, hears them, and most of all feels them with us. It is only that assurance that allows me to walk in peace today knowing that He goes with me. He is with me, no matter what. No matter the struggle or the victory, I am His and He holds me in His hand.
And these tears remind me that there is an incredible love that unites us. The love poured out in each drop is immense. Hugging some of the dearest people in my life goodbye for 11 months was not fun. And As each person walked away in a different direction toward the life they will walk in this year, my heart pulled with them. Each hug came with it a silent prayer over them; God, keep them safe. Cover them. Comfort them and draw them in. But also, as each friend and family member went, I felt the battle cry within me calling even louder. This is a fight. This journey is more than just traveling to 11 countries in 11 months. It is more than getting to experience so many different cultures and trying incredible food. There is a war going on and as we are all united in a love, we are also therefore united in the fight together against that which tries to destroy that love.
I was on my first flight yesterday and opened the book I am reading, which I am desperately trying to finish before I leave because my pack is so heavy. But I open it up and the chapter was talking about Joshua’s conquest in the Old Testament and bringing the people back to Canaan.The author first quoted a speech from Winston Churchill and it is worth repeating because it reminds us that there is great evil in this world and there is a fight against the darkness that we-children of the Light-will continue to be in until He calls us home.
“…it is remembered that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that we are in action at many points [on land], that we have to be prepared in the [sea], that the air battle is continuous, and that many preparations have to be made here at home. I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined the Government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.
You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war by sea, land, and air with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in a word: Victory-victory at all costs, victory in spite of all the terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our home…to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
Reading a piece of this speech, I found myself substituting some of the words for the countries I am going to be in and wherever I am, I will stand and fight for love. I will endure these tears of mourning goodbye and they will strengthen me as they drop and form the ocean beneath me; the water that He has called me out into and where I will stand…with Him. And all of us together, me there and you all everywhere that you are, we are all united in a love He wants us to experience more and more of so that we can continue to fight against the one who is trying to destroy it. So as I go, pray for my team and I as we go to the ‘front lines’ in a sense. Pray our hearts are broken for the people there, that it would compel us to action and that we would then surrender to our Father for the mending of it all back together. Thank you for your prayers and your support. I would not be able to do this without such incredible warriors behind me. I love you all!
“Take off yours sandals from your feet, for the place you are standing is holy.” (Joshua 5:15)
