This is how I entered Project SearchLights(PSL) this past week. PSL is a post-World Race debrief held in Georgia where we come together as a squad again and worship, network and figure out our next steps.
Well, I already had a plan and was simply coming to see my squad-mates again. I figured this whole 5 days was just going to be people trying to get me to work for Adventures in Missions (AIM). So I came here in defense mode, hands out in case they tried to recruit me, or worse, take away meaning from my trip.
Instead, I was completely blown away!
Not only did we worship and reconnect with each other, but we were empowered to pursue our passions in a realistic way. It would take too long to describe all the details of how they did this but it involved some of the following:
picking our passion;
networking with businessmen, missionaries, and ministries;
creating goals and tangible steps to reach them;
attending coaching sessions with incredible mentors;
having random dance parties and karaoke nights;
listening to the Holy Spirit;
worshiping, praying and encouraging one another;
and simply dreaming big and trusting that we serve a God that wants to make that happen.
It was intense but so so good.
So remember how I had this nice and neat little plan? Yeah, well now it’s shifting and changing and freaking me out a little. But I’m super excited.
See, my passion is dancing. I someday want to bring restoration, identity, and beauty to others through dance ministry using dancing as therapy or counseling. And my nice and neat little plan was to attend a Christian dance company in Texas to become better equipped in the fall of 2013 and then see where the Lord led from there.
But then I come to PSL and realize how much need is out there and I found myself zooming out a little. I hit a breaking point in the middle of the week because I was so overwhelmed and felt pressured by all the options, the steps, and the goals I had in front of me. And I slowly began to see how tightly I was holding to “my plans.”
I got really scared by how strongly my heart responded to one of the ministry opportunities they presented to us because it’s not exactly fitting my plan. But in processing that, I learned my heart is ready to jump in NOW. I do not feel fully equipped, but thankfully my Father is!
I can’t announce anything quite yet because I still have a few logistics to figure out. But I can say that the Lord has given me a new heart for America and possibly inner city kids. I am ready to serve someone else’s dream for a little while, and in that process let the Lord shape and mature my own dream.
Sorry to be so vague, but I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I navigate these next steps. One of our speakers this week said this, “He who gave you your dreams will take responsibility to see them through. Your responsibility is to be obedient and take the next step.” (Mac Schneider) This means that I am not responsible for the outcome!
And so, since I have my life before me…I will keep moving forward, even while I am waiting on the Lord. I will keep dancing until He tells me to stop. I will live a life worth living. Won’t you join me?
Stay tuned… 😀
