Daniel. A den of lions.
Lions. That’s something pretty scary. Or at least, we think so…but how on earth
does a den of lions compute in our minds here in Wautoma, Wisconsin? I tell
you, it’s not the easiest thing. My first thought was that most of us have
probably seen lions like this...
Kids programs, movies,
characters in a story…I mean, who hasn’t seen or heard of the Lion King?
But we’re trying to get
more real…okay. Wild. How about this?
Aww. For cute! I kind of
want to go pick this little kitty up and play with it. I could handle that.
In reality, most of
us—if we’ve seen a lion at all in real life—have seen it this way
Real lions, no doubt, and maybe dangerous, but removed by barbed wire or
maybe electric fencing and a pit or some other expanse that keeps us—and
them—at a safe distance.
That’s not too helpful
either. In each of these situations, the threat just doesn’t compute. We’re not
in danger, the lions are cute or caged or cartoons. We’re safe. We’re too
removed. These aren’t in-your-face threats that can tear you apart before you
blink.
Now we’re getting somewhere. I actually don’t really
want to turn around and look at that one. Jaws ready to snap those razor sharp
teeth; muscles tense, preparing to pounce; eyes staring you down in a look that
says ‘You. Are. My. Next. Meal.’
Now we’re getting
somewhere. Now we kind of get it. What Daniel was facing by being faithful to
God. Danger. Consequences. Giving up our personal interests to follow God.
Going way outside of our comfort zone.
What does that look like
in real life? Stepping beyond our comfort zone? Putting aside our personal
interests? Giving up part of our life for God?
Last week, the youth
group from here traveled to Cass Lake, Minnesota. [5-Early Morning] They got up
early—early enough to be here by 6am. They met some people they didn’t know—two
leaders that brought them to a place they’d never been to meet more people they
didn’t know. They took care of strangers’ kids, painted for days, and kept going. Even when they were
tired and worn out, they pushed their own fatigue aside to bring the last bit
of their energy out and give the community around them one more smile.
Outside of the comfort
zone. Imagine yourselves doing that. Painting for days, meeting
and playing with other people’s children—maybe people you wouldn’t approve
of—and treating them like precious children of God. Giving them the last of
your energy to keep a smile on their faces for one more hour. It’s not easy.
Of course, this was a
mission trip, so that was the point. The point was to challenge and push
yourself to do something for someone else. Here’s the flip side, though. In
doing this, the youth also made connections, they met new
friends that they got to know throughout the week, they laughed with the
members of the community in Cass Lake, they made memories, they lived out lives
as followers of Christ. There was so much that happened beyond the
simple pictures and stories even. These eight youth grew into the community
they served, they dove in and followed as disciples of Christ.
People asked me if I
survived this trip when I returned. People—not just one person. Because it
would be outside of my comfort zone. Because I would be the only adult from the
congregation going. Because I hadn’t met any of the youth. Because this would
take a lot of energy—maybe more than I had. It was a concern for those who
asked me, I’m sure, and I appreciate the consideration. My response, though?
Survive—it was amazing! It was amazing to be able to invest in these young people, amazing to see them connecting with the community, with their faith. Amazing. Just from watching these things, you could easily tell that God was with us all that week. God was with us, and amazing things happened.
And now we’re back.
That’s an awesome story, just as Daniel and the Lions is an awesome story. But
now we face the same problem we did when we started. How does that look in our
minds in Wautoma, Wisconsin? What does that mean for us? These youth stepped
out to serve for a week on a Reservation in Minnesota, but how do we translate
that to here?
I think…no I imagine…no
I hope. Yes, I hope that it means we are encouraged to live faithfully in all
we do. That we can know that God is with us always. I hope it means that we
hear these stories and start to look for those places we’ve set barriers in our
lives. Places where we know something is the right thing to do—we maybe see a
ton of potential in some project or service—but we hold back. I hope we see
those places and recognize that there is nothing to fear there. Because God is
with us.
This church has already
stepped out in several ways, from calling new staff to sending youth on mission
trips to confirmation camp to Relay4Life this weekend to many other things
supported here. Those are things to be excited about. Those are things to be
remembered and rejoiced in. Those are things to tell the world. God is with all
of us, and we get to step out and act like it.
I am excited to see what
the next adventures bring. I am excited to see how Hope Lutheran
inspires the community around it outside of these walls through the lives of
the people who gather here each week. I am excited to see how God works through
each and every one of you to serve God’s world and God’s people. God is with
you. Go do something amazing.
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