It was a Friday night and we were celebrating the 20th birthday of an incredible woman of God. Shopping. Dressing up all fancy and having "dates". Driving to Pittsburgh. Dinner at a nice Italian restaurant with a hilariously rude waitress.
And then we went to Mount Washington. The view was breathtaking. We took in the beauty that surrounded us and stood in awe of our Creator. We watched some middle school girls do their dance routine. Eventually, one girl got her guitar. Some people sang and danced. Others beatboxed and clapped. Others just smiled and enjoyed the presence of our Lord. We worshipped freely on the top of a mountain, surrounded by people we didn't know.
Soon after we started, it all shifted. People prophetically sang over those middle-school girls. Songs of identity and the love of the Father. We learned a little bit about their lives and exchanged contact info when they had to go.
One boy decided to break away from our group and talk to a young couple that was watching intently. He shared a bit of our stories and asked about theirs. He shared a bit of the Love story of Jesus. Then we all came over and met them. We laughed when the man said that he thought we must be high because he'd never seen people so happy. We explained that we just love Jesus and He gives us joy. We asked about their lives and their dreams. Eventually we left.
Later, we ran into an 18-year-old girl who was pounding on the door of a bar crying out for her friend. She was crying. She had too much to drink, had fallen and hurt her knee, was confused, and thought she had been abandoned. We prayed for her knee. God showed up and took away some of the pain. A girl held her cold water bottle to it. A boy took off his shirt to clean the blood off of her leg. Again we spoke identity and Love. We prayed against abandonment. We continually told her that she was NOT a burden and we wanted to help her. We lent a cell phone. We helped figure out the situation and met an amazing woman who owned the bar. We waited. We loved. We hugged and watched her leave. We decided to go to that bar one day to see Ms. Lisa again. Then we went home.
We came to have a good time and celebrate a life. We did that...while pouring out the Love that has been so lavishly given to us.
You see, it's easy to think "I'll love the orphans when I go to Africa. I'll love the prostitutes when I go to Thailand. I'll love the kids when I meet them for bible club.".
But what about NOW? What about when I go out to dinner? What about when I'm walking around downtown? What about when I'm in America and see people in need of Love all around me? Will I love the one? Will I love the ones that He has placed in front of me right here, right now?
Or will I be self-absorbed and remain in my little comfortable bubble? Will I be too afraid to step out and talk to them? Will I allow fear to keep me from freely giving out the Love that my Papa has so freely given to me?
I'm learning not to. I'm learning how to love well. I'm learning how to pay attention and value every person that I meet. I don't always do it. But I'm trying. And I want to be able to say that I live a life of Love always. I long to love naturally every single person, every single day.
In class, at dinner, on the street. I WILL walk in love. Will you join me?
