You may have seen the popular poem, Footprints in the Sand? The poet describes a dream she had of walking with the Lord across a beach. As different parts of her life pass by, she notices that in each scene she can see their footprints in the sand. At times the dreamer describes seeing two sets of footprints walking together in the sand. Yet at other times there is only one set, and she realizes that it's during the hardest times of her life that the other pair of footprints disappear. She is bothered by the abandonment of the Lord in her most difficult times, and she asks, Lord, though you promised to always be there with me, why weren't you there when I needed you most? The Lord replies to her, I was there. I was the one carrying you.
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In our bible study we are talking about "Walking Across the Room" ... having the confidence to leave your place of comfort and step out for people; taking an interest in other people's lives and taking a risk in getting to know others, and allowing them to get to know you. In the DVD segments of the study, I have been so astounded to hear the stories of people whose lives have been changed by conversations that took place months and even years before.
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So why these sentimental snippets? Well, today was one of those moments, where I thought there was only one set of footprints. If you know me well, you probably know that I'm a lover. I love animals, I love hugs, I love people, I love wholesome movies where love triumphs in the end. I am just that way. I've always been a peace seeking person, and I believe that love is the single most important purpose of my life, as well as the route to peace.Love, however, has another aspect. Love is fierce. It defends, protects, and perseveres in the face of evil. Love causes conflict. Love is a fight. You've seen it in the movies, right? Well, that side of love surfaces in me every now and then too. I am passionate about children. This isn't some cliche saying or a get up on my soap-box moment, it just is. I will fight you to the death over a child's safety, wellbeing, and future. So today, in a conference room meeting for a former student of mine, I felt something was going wrong. I felt like this boy needed a champion to step into the ring and fight, and, I jumped in! My heart was beating fast, and I felt my face getting flushed. My voice shook and my eyes had.. some moisture. After I spoke up, I got a response all right!
... .... ...
The Silent Treatment.
It would have been a perfect moment for the crickets to begin chirping and frogs to croak.
Soon after, the meeting ended awkwardly. I felt like, oh my goodness, what did I just do? Was I rude to my coworkers, and to these school officials I barely know? This is so unlike me! Yet, I didn't regret it. I gave the mother a hug, and went my way. I wished the Lord had shown up and said, "Thus sayeth the Lord. Give this child what he needs!" But, instead, I felt a bit wimpy with the silent reaction to my boxing ring fight.
It was late in the afternoon by this point, and the school was pretty empty, so I went to my room to take care of a few things before leaving. Suddenly one of the women who had been in the meeting came in. She said, "Rachel, we (several of the faculty in the meeting) were talking about what happened. Thank you. Thank you so much for what you said. You were in that meeting for a special reason." We talked a bit more and she left. She confirmed the surge of crazy love I had felt earlier in the conference room! Maybe my walk across the room for this student was heard.
I got home and after dinner, I thought, you know, I want to email that student's mother. She has been through the wringer since I've known her. Homeless, raising her children alone, searching for work, attending all her son's meetings, taking him to the hospital for diagnoses, listening to negative word after word about her child, etc. etc. etc. It was part of the reason I felt so much compassion for her in that meeting.
I logged in to my school account and saw one new email, from her. I began to cry and praise God as I read it.
Hello,
I just wanted to say thank you again. Between you and I, the other people in that room did not seem to care at all about what's been going on. I receive negative email after negative email, and it is hard to think that he might have to go through this all over again. But I don't want him to be pushed along, falling through the cracks, and not receive an education. It's very hard to do all of this by myself without his father helping me, but I will do anything for my child, he is the one that counts! THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING IN ----'s CORNER:) you are truly a great gift from God!!*
I thought I was fighting alone in that room, but little did I know, the Lord was carrying me. Just like the poet asked in the poem, "But Lord, you said that if I followed you, you would always be there?" He was there all right, and he was speaking in the silence of that room. As far as being a great gift from God, that mother has blessed me more than I ever could her.
God is always there, whether you and I can see it at the time, and whether we are ready to acknowledge it. I believe more than ever, that love is worth the fight. Love your spouse, love your coworkers, love your family, your children, and walk across the room to love strangers. God is in the midst changing lives, today, tomorrow, or years down the road.
Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
*paraphrased for privacy
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