Last night was Mission Meeting night at the church. I’ve known for a while now it’s time to step up….time to make the move and get a little uncomfortable. I want to do more. There is more to life than gathering “stuff” and just going to work. So I figured, what better place than to find a way to reach out to others?
For some reason I thought the information would be about more local type mission work, but as it turned out it was about 3 trips…….the first to Washington D.C., the second to Los Angeles, and the third to Puerto Rico. As I sat listening about each one….it soon became obvious the one that had been chosen for me.
My biggest fear in life is being in situations where I have no control. Coincidentally, some of the scariest times and places I have been have been in inner cities. Homeless people scare me. No, I’ve never been threatened, but the whole thing just really makes me uncomfortable.
So, Los Angeles I will be going the first of July. We will be working hand in hand with the Los Angeles Dream Center……a massive missionary project that helps those that can’t help themselves. We will be working on Skid Row, the most poverty-stricken place in America. It covers a massive 52 square city blocks.
Never in my life would I have ever thought I would embark on a journey like this. What am I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do? But if we are to follow Jesus….truly follow Jesus….we need to get out in the streets and get to work. Jesus didn’t hang out at the country club. He didn’t hang out in fancy restaurants. Jesus went to the people…..and where the people where….it was dirty. It was scary. But he came to do just that.
Paul’s missionary work was gruesome at times. He didn’t stay in 5 star resorts and the people persecuted him for the most part. But his words in Acts are comforting as I slowly prepare for what is to come. “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24.)”
I think it’s okay to be afraid. God uses our weaknesses for his gain. God strengthens us to get through the impossible…..for His glory.
Last night they told us some ideas for fundraising. Soon after I got home I set up a site to raise some money so I can go. (I’m not going to publish that info here. I don’t want to get into the habit of asking for money. That isn’t the purpose of all of this.). But the funny thing is….God didn’t even give me a chance to back out….to change my mind. 5 minutes after my site went live, I had my first donor. About 10 minutes later another. It was at that point I looked at my wife and said, “I guess I should register for this trip now, huh?”
She is so supportive, and she knows me so very well. She knew which one was meant for me almost before I did. When I was talking to our Missions Director after the presentation she asked me which one I was thinking about going on. I told her Los Angeles scares me to death. She looked at me and said, “Then that’s the one you are supposed to do.”
Fear is……well, it’s just downright scary. But we can’t let fear get the best of us. Psalm 23:4 is one of the best known verses regarding fear….”Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” God will take care of us. God will watch over us. And in that comfort, it makes it all the easier to step out of our boxes to do His work.
My wife sent me this quote last night as I was setting up my fundraising site….this journey is just beginning for us. And who knows what this journey will bring. But we will all change in the process…..and I know now we will all change for the better.
“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”
I pray that fear doesn’t hold us back from becoming who God intended for us to be. I pray we can all follow God’s calling on our lives. I pray that when we start to get boxed in, that when that fear starts to surround us…..we kick that box down…we break through that wall…..and we all complete the Mission God placed before us.
Tetelestai 