If everything I have ever known of the world I live in goes away, my prayers will still stand because they are not built on earthly things.

Our nation loves the NFL and the athletes that have dedicated their lives to the game. Many of them use their platforms to serve communities, medical research, and other causes they are equally passionate about. Over the last week I believe God used them to spark something in our nation. A return to prayer. Prayer was natural, innate, for them and I believe it is the same for all of us.

I am naturally a peacekeeper. I know how to keep the peace with the best of them. I look down, politely smile, avoid the moody family member. The more I behave in this socially acceptable way the more I am rewarded with smiles, invitations, and conversation. However, these habits do not create atmospheres of peace. Very much the opposite.

In these moments of pain, how are local churches to respond in a way that honors Jesus? In a way that offers unity, healing, and the life-saving gospel message. I have sat with dozens of pastors and asked the same question. Here are some ways that I have seen be successful…

The world has taken the word and concepts of justice and has done what they saw as right in their own eyes. However, scripture is not unclear about such concepts.

I can weep with those who are weeping. I can validate the hope, complexity, desperation, and grief of the now. Even when I do not understand I can let compassion move me to action. I can sit next to my sisters and become a weeping woman.

My encouragement is to do the heart work and education now so the next time things flare up you are prepared to move in a Biblical response with Holy Activism.

It is not enough to only celebrate where our country has come from. We must be actively pursuing loving conversation with those who we are in relationships with. It is crucial for us to be seeking understanding and searching our own hearts for prejudice. That is only going to happen when we ask the hard questions.

Racial Injustice is a spiritual battle that is manifesting physically on the earth, and it needs to be treated as such. We must be praying Kingdom truths into our communities. These Kingdom prayers, including repentance and forgiveness, are what sets the stage for the practical work of racial reconciliation to be done in peace. These are the prayers that soften hearts, open ears and give wisdom.

We like to fit what we experience into a narrative with boundaries we already know. It is a coping mechanism to help us make sense of confusing times. Right, wrong, conservative, liberal, conspiracist, or fascist all become narratives we turn to. In my experience we choose to fit world circumstances into the narrative we know best. Into the narrative, we identify most with. What we have put our identity in is being revealed in this season. Our idols are being revealed in this season.

I was horrified as I watch one of my friends step between me and the young man. Looking directly at him my friend told him to apologize.

I was stunned.

My mind was racing, but no words were coming out. I didn’t know where to put my hands or where to look. I was confused, everything was upside down.

I suppose I always thought I could change the world, or at least my world. Even from a young age I dreamed about being able to help others. I don’t know if I knew the words, but I was desperate to make an impact.

Wonder is the state of heaven.

Wonder is our natural state. I believe we were created for wonder, because wonder is worship.  Wonder gives praise to what God is doing or has done. It isn’t distracted by what is not going well in our lives, but focuses itself on the one that can do something about it. 

My hand shook as I signed the waiver. I could hear the sounds of the other skiers through the open door. I hadn’t been on skis in close to 20 years.

Most of the words that come out of my mouth are useless. Most of the words that come out of my mouth are about myself. Most of the words that are not about myself are gossip, sarcasm, or to promoting my own agenda. 

I confess, I have been careless with my voice. 

You are not made for comparison or competition, you are made for community. Rally the troops, find your people, press in.  Even if it feels lonely you don’t have to be alone.  Let people champion, challenge, and experience your passion.  Then, the days you don’t think you can take another step someone will ask you about whats next. Then you know you have already won, you have already changed a heart. 

Dying to my ideas of what success looks like, dying to my ideas of what provision will looking like, dying to my need to be in control.  John records Jesus' words, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Jesus was prophesying his imminent death, but I think it speaks into our lives as well.  When I lay myself on heaven's alter there is nothing hindering me from a heavenly work in my life.  

Knowledge isn’t going to bring wholeness.  Classrooms are not going to teach my heart to love again.  I need experience, passion and rest.

The uphill battles don’t leave us abandoned to where we started.  They bring us to places like Bench 37, which sits on top of the ridge.  They lead us to moments of reflection, and they give us a different perspective. 

I want to be a person that speaks up and makes life happen instead of let’s life happen.  I want to experience everything this world has to offer, and then share it with everyone I meet. I want to know Jesus more, and inspire others to do the same.  So now every morning I look myself in the mirror, and say to myself, “I have something to say.”