Allow me to paint a picture for you: you’re in a hot fellowship hall in the middle of a campsite surrounded by pre-teens, listening to a Cuban pastor rap the first half of his sermon while a group of South Korean chaperones translates the heart of the message to several students who have been in the states for less than 72 hours. Meanwhile, on the other side of the fellowship hall, other camp leaders are translating the message to Spanish for campers from Guatemala and Nicaragua. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Ina, that sounds overwhelming!” Very true, but do you know what I see when I look back? Relationships. People striving to connect with each other so that together we could connect to God. Full disclosure, at that moment it felt messy, confusing, time-consuming and extremely uncomfortable. But later, when campers who barely spoke the same language as us came up to hug and thank the staff for making them feel welcome, it all became crystal clear. The struggle, or rather the striving is what makes it so beautiful, and if it was beautiful to me think of how it must look to our Heavenly Father!
A room full of people all seeking God’s heart, that’s amazing! But the cost of a moment like this; sweat, exhaustion, disagreements with new friends and loads of other things that make you consider if it will all be worth it in the end. Spoiler alert: IT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE.
I think it is a common practice of human beings to be afraid of the unknown, but what I have learned this summer is that there is so much to be excited about when you’re standing on that precipice not knowing what’s out there. It is the beginning of everything you don’t know yet, but may one day learn. The beautiful beginning of friendships, the moments before those complete strangers become your family and friends.
When you grow with people who are different than you through Spirit-filled disagreements about how we each see the world the blinders of what’s best for me fall away. Suddenly it isn’t just me on an island of me, but a whole wide world of us. If we step outside of ourselves and truly search deeper than just “I don’t like this,” or “I don’t understand this,” and begin to ask ourselves “Why don’t I,” the answers are so tremendous and wonderful. The insights gained from uncomfortable interactions help us gain a better understanding of our neighbors’ hearts and, in that, maybe God’s heart as well.
Jesus Girl 