Category: Missionary

Have you ever tried to trapeze?  To fly high in the air with the greatest of ease?

I had the opportunity back in 1991 to do some trapeze in Port St. Lucy, FL. It requires climbing up a small ladder, being harnessed up, climbing up an even tinier ladder, and standing on a 2×2 platform with a release person.  With a hook, the release person draws back the trapeze bar and tells you to grab hold with both hands; meanwhile, they have a hold of your harness from the back (or in some cases by the waist) – the only thing stopping you from dropping off the platform.

There’s this moment before you let go for the first time.  This moment when these thoughts run through your mind, like “AM I OUT OF MY MIND??”  or “Why am I doing this again?” or “If it doesn’t work out, there’s always the harness or the net to catch me.”  or “What if there’s no connection when I let go?”  (Apparently these thoughts are absolutely normal – normal feelings about an “abnormal” choice to fling all that you are into the wide open air, with little less than rope, a bar, and two hands on the other side waiting to catch you.)

Once you decide to go, you have to tell the release person “Go!” and they release their hold on you as you take your first big swing on the trapeze and then flip yourself up to sit on the bar.  I remember my first time on that platform – I was not afraid of the climb, I was not afraid of the size or the height of the platform, and I was not even afraid of the upcoming catch…but the word “Go!” took its sweet time coming out of my mouth.   I felt I was waiting for a moment to feel secure enough to be all in and release.  I knew it would come.

I finally did say “Go!”, taking a big swing down, hanging from the bar, flipping myself to sitting position and then holding the swing with a kung fu grip.  I DID IT!!  I DID IT!!  I’m swinging!! The feel of the breeze on my body, the pure smell of the air at that height, the Atlantic ocean vistas laid out before me, the joy of having let go and trusted.

Then there was connecting to the other person on the opposite swing, another step of faith – I mean, what if our hands didn’t connect?  what if our hands got sweaty and I fell?  what if I couldn’t find the my swing in the return?  As I turned to position myself to connect, I succeeded in reaching out my hands and locking grips with my trapeze partner, letting go of my swing, relying on the strength of another.

Deciding to become a missionary is like trapezing with the Lord.  There was quite a climb (wrestling with the idea and submitting) …there was a moment of securing myself to a harness (ADRN)…there was a moment of doubt (Am I sure this is the way?)…there is the moment of release (sending out the donation requests)…there is the joy mixed with the kung fu grip of the first full swing (giving in to the thrill of following Christ but clinging to His hand)…there is the fear of not connecting (will others partner with me?)…there is the list of questions (what about bills? insurance? retirement?)…there is the thrill of realizing you are actually doing it (receiving the first payments, working for the Lord)…and then there is the realization of the absolute freedom of a life in Christ, a life with a singular focus of gazing upon His beauty and inquiring in His temple.

Ah the sweetness of trapezing with the Lord! Flying high on eagle’s wings!  Release!

(selah)

Well, it all started while I was walking in the Spirit.  During a time of deep listening to the Lord, I inquired of the Lord how He saw me.  Immediately I was sitting atop a snowy peak with Jesus looking out on many other snowy peaks surrounded by clouds – it was beautiful and peaceful.  I looked at Him and asked Him how He saw me.  Before I knew it, we were in the Throne room, and He pulled out a large, rimmed abalone bowl, and in the bowl were many pearls of all colors, sizes, and lustre – one pink, one black, one white, one yellow, and then I see Him reaching toward one that was truly like a fire opal, and He confirms that this one is me.

Just as His fingers picked up the “fire” pearl, it transformed from a solid to a starburst of brilliant multi-colored light that shone so brightly that it nearly blinded me.  My jaw dropped in amazement – “Lord, are you sure You have the right one?”  I found it hard to believe myself as this brilliant starburst of light that reached far and wide and filled every space.  The Lord replied, “As a pearl, you are beautiful to Me, but the moment you allow Me to pick you up, My Light fills you and you are much more.”

As I came back to my surroundings with my jaw still open in disbelief, I realized that in taking this step forward as a missionary, I am allowing His Light to fill me up and “greater works than these” I will do – truly my faith is being stretched and tested at just the thought of what He showed me, let alone doing.  I thank the Lord for granting me this vision; I treasure it!  I thank the Lord for increasing my faith and my capacity to keep my eyes on Him.

On 04/17/17, a dear friend Sue blessed me with a beautiful abalone shell in connection to my season, Fire Pearl Missions – thank you so much dear Friend!  Blessings to you and yours, Sue!

Fast forward to today, and the picture is a miraculous transformation!  Not only did the Lord save me and accelerate my spiritual growth, but He put a call on my life to help those in crisis through both my church, Glad Tidings of Austin (GT Austin), and Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN). Even more recently in 2016, He called me to step out in faith and become a missionary.

So, what’s going to fuel this campaign?  PRAYER!  I cannot do what I’m about to do without 1) the call of the Lord to go before me and lay out the path He has for me, and 2) an abundance of thanksgiving, praise, and prayer.  I am so thankful to each one of you for coming around me as prayer warriors, intercessors for my missionary journey