Around 5:30 Monday (31st) night, the ‘bikers against human trafficking’ pulled into the Safeway parking lot in Sun City, AZ. 450 miles and 8 days earlier, four eager bikers (including myself) had embarked on a journey that would hopefully open American eyes to the harsh reality of modern-day slavery. Not only did the Lord challenge mindsets across the nation, but He used this journey to physically, mentally and spiritually tether me to Himself and the millions of individuals living in bondage. I loved this experience, but it wasn’t all free of pain and frustration…
“Why, Lord,” I yell into the 40 mile per hour winds. I was pedaling my little heart out to no avail. I think I was gaining negative ground. I look up from the road and see a dust tornado move across the plain. The dirt pelts my sun-scorched, wind-burnt face. My eyes brim with tears. “Lord, please take the wind away,” I shout again as I begin to feel sorry for myself. Victimization sets in – a quick death of mental perseverance follows. My pedaling slows and I often contemplate quitting.
Yet, something inside of me fights against reality. It is not going down with out a battle. It pushes through the winds, up the hills and into the heart of the dust storm. “Why the wind, Lord? I am out here for you. I’m out here in the elements to raise awareness on human trafficking…to further your kingdom. Why are you against me? Take away the wind, Lord.”
Instead of relief, a mighty gust pushes me into the road. I quickly recover and pull pack onto the shoulder, leaning into the wind. Then I hear a faint whisper as it blows past me on the breeze, “Stephanie, you can’t fully embrace the adventure without fully embracing the obstacles that come along with it. True adventure is full of risk, character-building opportunities, strength-training, mental perseverance…it is not void of adversaries. It would not be an adventure if you did not face obstacles. If you follow Me, you will find yourself in situations that require you to lean on Me and depend on Me alone. Your strength lies in your weakness.”
Honestly, I heard it, but I didn’t like it. It didn’t change my situation at all. I still felt like I had 20 strikes against me. I couldn’t dig myself out. Heck, was I even covering 1 mile per hour?
Then girls’ faces began to pop into my mind. I know that the bike ride and human trafficking are weak comparisons, but I do believe the Lord used that day to tether me tighter to these girls who are held against their will as sex slaves. Each girl has 20 strikes again her. She has no one cheering for her, only individuals digging her grave deeper and deeper into a hopeless hell-hole. Strike one – prostitutes are taboo. Strike two – people don’t want to acknowledge that women are trafficked and held against their will. Strike three – the police are no help at all, in fact they help dig the grave deeper. Strike four – the girls are physically and mentally abused…fear is instilled to keep them in bondage. And the list could go on.
Another dust storm yanks my mind back to the road. My eyes water in an attempt to clear away the dirt and sand. I see the pace car in the distance. A retrieve from the wind. A symbol of hope. I see the end and I am going to make it.
Though I feel victimized by the wind, I am subjecting myself to this harsh reality. Perspective begins to settle in. In contrast, sex slaves are true victims. They are trafficked and sold into the grueling reality of being prostituted day and night. How often do they see the end? Does hope ever come into their view?
I pedal on. I scream at the Lord. I cry and I pray.
Soon we will be posting a video of the ride on our website. Check it out! www.freewebs.com/baht.
