I’ve heard from so many past World Racers that “you will never be the same”. This is my deepest hope – that this experience, meeting people from all over the world, being exposed to abject poverty and injustice breaks my heart just like it does God’s. It is so easy to see people living in poverty or through war on the news and feel sad, but since it seems so far away, it just doesn’t affect the way we live our lives. One of God’s greatest commandments is to love others. We even teach this in the nursery at our church as one of our core values: Love People.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
I am currently reading So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore with my small group. In the book, Beth gives a quote from her daughter, Melissa, after she traveled internationally for a mission trip. As I read it, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It so perfectly captures the longing of my heart:
“I’m just an all-American twenty-six-year-old girl, consumed with comfort, security, vanity, wealth, and materialism like the “best” of them. In light of who I know I am, I feel compelled to ask that the Lord would perform a miracle on my behalf — that he would keep the emotional wounds that were carved during the past few weeks from healing….So this is my prayer today: that time won’t have its typical way with me. That the sharp edge of the sting I feel deep in my soul won’t ever be dulled or alleviated.” (p. 316)
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a spiritual retreat in Colorado for a weekend, which was life-giving and so wonderful (more to come on that later). While there, I was introduced to a song by Housefires, “Build My Life”. As we sang the song multiple times throughout the weekend, there was one part of the chorus that resonated with me:
Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me.
This is my prayer right now: God, please give me Your heart. You know the needs of Your people. Send me where I am needed, and give me the words and the ability to help where I can. I know I will never be enough on my own, but through Your strength, I can move mountains.
