Grace and peace...
I begin with this evening. During chapel tonight, a young man named Andrew talked about humility before God. The message was about being honest with ourselves about who we are and the need to live consistently for Christ. He spoke of how it happens that we are faithful and committed to Christ only to fall away again to a lifestyle of selfishness and sin. He told his own sturggles with this pattern and then showed a video of a dance done in a church that was, in a word, powerful. I've seen the video probably a half a dozen times before and cry everytime. It shows the personal nature of the life the Father in heaven wants to have with us and the many distractions that pull us away from him and eventually turn destructive. It shows the Father protecting us and fighting away those destructive things in order to gain back the personal relationship with us. Afterward, we sang a song that spoke of the love God has for all of us.
Sometimes words can't describe an experience. Something happened in that chapel tonight that brought together four days of work, laughter, prayers, conflicts, and study. God fed the minds and stirred the hearts of all of us. Not one person, myself included, left unchanged. Tears were flowing. During the last song and into our group time after evening worship, God settled on the group like the fog on these Blue Ridge mountains. God engulfed us and hearts were opened. Students opened their hearts, shared their struggles and sins, prayed for renewal of life and cried in each others' arms. Christina led the discussion, Amy had history with them and was able to talk directly to their life situations and I led a prayer of invitation to commitment/renewed commitment to live for Christ. Around a fire ring on a Tennessee mountain, we stood on holy ground and talked, wept and prayed. Heaven and earth touched this night and the presence of God was palpable.
Some have said it takes the lens of history to accurately see all the factors that play out in any given moment. It will take weeks if not months to begin to see all of the dynamics at work in this night and on this trip whole. For now, I can say that a handful of people you know and love have drawn close to God this night.
Briefly, we finished Eddie and Betty's home today and we will spend our remaining work time helping others teams complete their projects. Also, yesterday we had rain all afternoon and night. We are sleeping in cabins with tin roofs and heard the rain fall all night long. Even an occassional slamming door didn't take away that sound and peaceful sleeping. Oh, and we took an evening swim in a place called Bluehole at the Cherokee State Park. It was good to relax together after our longest day of work so far.
It is late. Very late. No rain tonight, but I think sleep with be just as sound. Time for bed.
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