A couple weeks back, I posted a blog and discussed some of the work God has been doing in my heart, and thought I, and maybe you, could benefit from revisiting that. That said, I apologize for any repetition of what I said there, apparently I need to see it again. This last month and a half or so has been a significant time of really re-evaluating what sent me on the race, and my deeper perception of our call as followers of Christ. I really want to address this blog to the “me” of the last couple years, particularly, which may or may not look something like you. Now, this is going to be a delicate tightrope to walk, but this is where I’m at, so bear with me, taking it how you need to take it.
I was sitting with our team of men early last month, stuffed to the brim after our contacts took us on a fantastic food tour for some local flavors, talking to Peter, our contact, while enjoying some Teh Tarik (one of the highlights of my month alone). Peter is sharing his passionate heart for discipleship, and effectively expressing that in the context of his own life. In light of that, I am able to share about my last few years leading Young Life, and the opportunity I had to disciple and pour into high school guys. Upon concluding my story, Peter looks at me with unanticipated seriousness, and asks “so you were in a great ministry, making disciples…why would you leave that?”
The knee-jerk reaction of thoughts that flooded my mind revealed more than I could have expected.
…what?! but….
I’m in MALAYSIA…
I came to the other side of the world to do MISSIONS work…
I’m living out of a BACKPACK…
I left my FAMILY…
I’m raising SUPPORT…
I’m living the REAL CHRISTIAN LIFE…
…ouch. Did that really just cross my mind? Thankfully, these were not the extent of my reactions, but I’d be missing a necessary revelation if I were to ignore their existence. This trip is a unique step of faith, yes, but I resolve now to kick it off the pedestal I, and perhaps others, have set it upon.
I am incredibly blessed, honored, and grateful to be exactly where I’m at, and I am confident it is exactly where God wants me for these 11 months. However, my greater concern is upon where I was for the last couple years. In many ways, I was living in a perpetual season of discontent anticipation, waiting for my “real life” to begin. I read more than my fair share of dramatic stories of incredible lives of faith, and would formulate my portraits of ideal ministry that surely couldn’t be enacted until some far off day where the grass always seems greener and the fields riper for the harvest. God was still doing an incredibly work and the Kingdom was undeniably expanding, but God desires and rewards our complete and utter devotion to Him and His work, and He doesn’t want us waiting around for some far off day to start chasing after Him with everything we have.
Don’t waste another day without giving it all over to Him. You are exactly where you need to be, and there is a desperate need around you. I can’t help but repeat Platt again in embracing the reality: “He has given us people, and he has said, ‘Live for them. Love them,
serve them, and lead them. Lead them to follow me, and lead them to lead
others to follow me. In the process you will multiply the gospel to the
ends of the earth.”
What are you waiting for?
Keep dreaming bigger. But for now, you’re there. Be there now. Throw down some roots, get invested in the lives around you. Be discipled, make disciples. Expand the Kingdom.
I hope these thoughts were coherent, and that their direction was generally apparent for you. I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts, questions, and comments upon this, as I really think this revelation wasn’t intended to end with me.
[pictures from Batu Caves [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Caves], a large Hindu temple area near Kuala Lumpur]
