Love Is Patient

Before anything else, love is patient.  Longevity in a relationship, whether that is with a sibling, friend or spouse, is undoubtedly the proof of a passion that runs deep.  Lasting relations are irreplaceable, but come at a great cost, which perhaps, is what makes them so life changing.  The impact of love’s endurance bares fruit so pure, innocent and personal that the world longs greatly to taste of it, because this extent of affection is not given or withheld for its ability to lure instant gratification to the one that supplies.  

Patience is born of selflessness: it seeks nothing of its own.    

I have seen the power of patience first hand in the lives of every missionary that we have met on this 60 Days Walking journey.  Each new face has come with another inspiring tale of sacrifice, dedication, and God’s power set on full display by lives that are in no way more talented or qualified than any other.  I see these missionaries as they serve in their immersion and cannot help but wonder how long it must have taken before these ‘gringos’ became family to the one’s that they abandoned everything to embrace.  Though I am sure the times greatly varied, I would not doubt that each transition took place when the cultures realized that their new neighbors were here for the long run. 

The sensation of love is that you never see its full range of impact.  It seeps deep and touches something greater than what can be read on the surface of one’s life.  It is contagious and as it spreads it also strengthens and multiplies.  A heart that relentlessly seeks the betterment of those around it cannot fail! After all, what can the world do to hold back the influence of a life that empowers for the sake of empowerment, gives for the sake of giving, and loves for the sake of loving? The generosity of patience will never be silenced.                

One Body

After three days, eighteen hours of bus travel, and miles of walking with our bulky backpacks through the Nicaraguan midday heat, the team finally arrived at Canto Nuevo (New Song) Ministry.  We were greeted with welcoming words and joyous smiles by many of the staff and volunteers of the ministry, and even enjoyed the laughs of explaining to some that ’60 Days Walking’ does not mean we were skipping out on buses and hitchhikes to saunter our way across the Central American countries by foot – though that would be much more impressive! We spent the remainder of our afternoon and evening comparing stories and dreams with our new friends, and quickly fell in love with the hearts and hands behind everything being done here at New Song.

 

The next morning, after waking to find two unwelcomed tarantula roommates resting behind our bags (may they rest in peace), the three of us enjoyed a wonderful time of worship with our friends.  As we prayed side by side, I could not help but consider the unimaginable grandeur and size that this gospel has become, that I could travel to an entirely new place in the world, and experience the same God with a group of people that are just as in love with Him as I am.  I see more and more, that we are all a community, knit and held together by a love that is unrelenting, powerful and life-giving.  There is always much more being done than I see, and much more involvement, sacrifice and faith being lived out in a single day than I will ever be able to comprehend or realize.  It is an honor to be part of such an exquisite body.

One thing that God spoke to me some time ago was about the responsibility that each body part undertakes.  No member of a body is created to serve itself – but every hand, muscle, ear, toe and backbone are performing at their most natural and productive state, when they are fulfilling the needs of their other members.  When a portion of a body decides that it wants to serve itself, it is deceived and does not see the purpose and beauty behind its own talents and abilities.  What can a hand do for itself? It cannot reach, cannot eat, and cannot, in any way serve itself or fulfill its own desires; in the same way, we are not designed to function as solitary figures, but as a community of gifts, differences, talents and dreams, serving one another as a body.  

Greatness Redefined

We have been in Chiquimula, Guatemala for five days now, taking our short glimpse into the lives of Larry and Marla Johnson – the co-founders of Flames of Fire Ministry.  Every night, after our daily responsibilities and afternoon siestas wind down, the three of us make our way downstairs for nightly talks with this beautiful missionary couple.  The conversations have ranged everywhere from the laughs brought about at the expense of missionaries robbed by monkeys, to the tear-jerking memories of Marla and Larry’s early days on the mission field, when they would hear their nine year old daughter assure them, “It is okay mommy, I wasn’t very hungry today anyway,” when the poor family was stretching their money to make it through each new day. 

It is lives like these that inspire me to live for something greater than myself.  Stories of hardships taken on and overcome by those willing to believe that this good news is meant to be experienced by all!

I believe that everyone is called to greatness and it is something that is able to be pursued.  Many will frown on such words, assuming that greatness is a life consumed in self-love, fame and outward glory; but I reference something else entirely.  When Jesus’ disciples asked him about ‘greatness’, he did not rebuke them, but renewed their perspective and pointed them to a new road. 

I believe greatness can have many faces and be expressed in countless ways, but most commonly begins in a life that is willing to go low and slow, living for those that surround them and embracing a lifestyle of selfless love.  It has no need for fame, but in the sacrifices and patience that it displays, I would argue that such greatness deserves to be recognized and known more than any other.  Just as Jesus turned the world upside down by his affection, I believe we are all called to do the same.              

Marla and Larry have modeled this lifestyle masterfully.  From their first years on the mission field, they were unknown servants taking on the unimaginable hardships of language barriers, financial uncertainties and health struggles they found in Mexico – but now, nearly thirty years later, the fruit of their dedication is inspiring and offering hope to countless others in their pursuit of God and opportunities to share His love with the world. 

What began in secret, God has rewarded in the light:

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matt 6:2-4