A World AIDS Day Reflection

I just finished a weekend full of World AIDS Day activities...and after them I penned a quick note I've copied below to some of my former and current students...may we continue to be broken as seek to bring healing to God's people...

I was at Willow Creek's service Sunday morning watching footage from Malawi that was so similar to what we've experienced in Zambia, and to my chagrin, tears started to stream down my face...Trey was giving me this weird look and I tried to stop them, but to be honest, with very little success...

And as I sighed I also realized at that moment that my inability to not cry when I see or hear stories about the need and what God is doing in Africa comes from the fact that simply my heart has been broken, been changed, been forever made softer and more compassionate and more compelled to do something extraordinary because of the journey I have been on with so many others these past six years...

Last night as I finished some stuff around the house, I prayed for all of my students who have been on Project Lead or been to Zambia with me...I prayed specifically that God would continue to stir in their hearts something that is so compelling, so overwhelming, so life-giving, that you would not be able to escape it...I'm convinced more than ever that there must be something that shatters our heart and our very lives in order to have a vision that is God-sized and able to bring Kingdom change and impact in remarkable ways...

So I guess what I'm saying, is seek that out...whatever and wherever that might be...and continue to feed that frustration, fan that flame, and take risks for that cause...because ulitmately, I'd rather be weeping over God's most precious possession in life, His people, rather than sleeping or daydreaming on Sunday morning and every other day of the week, wouldn't you??