Never Lose the Wonder

Wellllll...

...our bags have been packed.

...flights rebooked.

...prayers spoken (and those unspoken).

...team ready.

We had a time of intercession today that reminded me again why I am doing what I do. It can feel strange and be very uncomfortable, giving up your life for something people can't see. I mean, working for money--and giving your life to that--makes sense to tons of people because its exactly what they're doing. People enjoy understanding why you do what you do: they want to know the motivations. Was it for love? For family? To bring peace? To continue your studies? People like having labels and ideas and reasons for the way that you are and what you do: and when you don't fit into their reality--in fact, mess with their reality and how they see the world functioning--they get very uncomfortable. Sometimes they even lash out at you.

That's what happened to the five missionaries who died in Ecuador. I read their story again this last week--it was the first book on missions I ever encountered--and what struck me reading it this time was not their courage or well thought through plans or even their death: what struck me was how they lived and the legacy they left behind.

None of them was very impressive. I am fairly sure all had college degrees and left behind wives and small children. They had given up almost everything to be out in the middle of the jungle, which most people would applaud (or disdain). But then they took it a step further and chose to go after a tribe no one else had been successful at reaching--in fact, efforts to reach these people had been so unsuccessful that almost no one lived to tell the tale. But something drove them on...

There is a love that lives in the heart of God that goes beyond all of our human sensibilities and every sense of justice we possess. It is so fathomless and beyond our senses as to be incomprehensible.  Every once in a while we encounter it--in an act of forgiveness or a friend giving his life for another--and it astounds us. The very fact that it exists leaves us breathless. "May we never lose our wonder" I think we can sing this song over and over again because we--when we see Him as He is, the God-man who died so bluntly and brutally for us--the very choice, apart from the actual act--that God would choose us over Himself and choose to love us is beyond our realm.

And as we follow Him, we go beyond our realm. There is no reason for me to go to India. There was no reason for those five missionaries to reach out to the hateful, killing Aucas. But they were urged on by wonder and the reality that to be with God is the final destination and all we really want in this life.

I was reminded again today--and overwhelmed--by the grief mixed with longing that accompanies each human soul as they travel this clod of dirt. It may sound dramatic, but it's true: your soul was made for glory, made to be known by its Creator and when the reality is that you are separated--from before your birth--it creates so much chaos and pain and insignificance that was never meant to be there, never meant to be a part of the human soul.

But there it is...and we're all familiar with it. And Jesus stepped in: into the middle of dirty, fragile, broken Earth and choose to be with humanity: walking in the dirty streets (hello, no indoor plumbing!), eating our food, watching us hurt one another and be hurt in return...and He loved.

When I think of what he gave up and how He choose to come so far for me (leaving heaven's throne and all its glories!) me going to India is no big deal. I count it no privilege: and yet, it is one, because I get to join Him there. He paid every price for me to be near Him, to be His co-heir, to be filled with spiritual blessings and to know His love. And I copy Him as I go in the midst of people--little caring for their reaction, as He and His love are always enough for me--and am with them, choosing to love where they hurt, seeing them with His eyes and choosing to display His love.

If you have any thoughts and prayers for us as we travel, may they be directed toward the hearts of His people who just don't know Him yet. His love goes with us, dwelling in and around us as we interact as a team. That we will have unity, spiritual blessings of hope and joy to surround us and that we may keep seeing that country through His eyes. There is such beauty in those eyes and they are so longing to look on His people...may we never lose the wonder.