There are a few phrases in this season that tire me out. How ‘bout you?
Social distancing. As an extrovert, I miss hugs.
New normal. What does that exactly mean? Nothing in my life with three children quarantining is normal.
Social Unrest. This is the one that stirs me and doesn’t sit well with my spirit at all.
As my Grandma Laura would say, this phrase is disturbing to my spirit as a child of God. “Social Unrest”…that nice phrase to put all that is wrong with the world socially in one neat little box. A sound bite for us to use to distance ourselves from the reality of the sin that is around us every day. Every minute. Every second.
Every day, there are 27 million people in modern day slavery called human trafficking.
Every second, 28,300 users are watching pornography. (Source: Covenant Eyes)
You see, there are those of us who have experienced Social Unrest our whole lives…this phrase doesn’t do justice to the fight we are in.
I sat in my seat at the Wings of Refuge volunteer training. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I was there because I have a passion and deep conviction to help women and girls design their lives in Christ. As I listened and learned about this modern-day slavery, human trafficking, I was stirred. Another silent killer of women, girls, the poor and people of color. I heard about the choices these women make with so few choices in front of them. I began to recall my own hurts and despair; the emotionally abusive boyfriend, the rejection of being divorced, and so many years of racial microaggressions. As a godly woman, this display of Social Unrest was not sitting well with my spirit.
For situations or circumstances to not sit well in your spirit can be a good thing. It is the first sign of care, empathy, and compassion. It means love is in the atmosphere and it is time to pay attention. We must not miss it.
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8 (NKJV)
This is Peter’s first sentence in talking about suffering for doing good. He wants Christ believers to create oneness. To have compassion is to not only understand a person’s predicament, but to feel it with them and thus feel moved to help. When we do this, action of love and humility are not far behind.
This is not a soft section of scripture. Paul and Peter are in agreement here. Love suffers long. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)
As the training continued that day, I was introduced to Wings of Refuge. A movement that began with prayer, because twelve people felt that same stir. As the staff shared their stories, I saw the footprints of my Heavenly Father all over the place. Peace met me at the table.
Because of COVID-19, my interaction with the women has been put on hold. In the waiting, I am just a few sessions away from my life coaching certification. My spirit is still stirred for this ministry. The anticipation to know who they are, what they hold dear, and see the hope they have, sits well with my spirit.
By: Toni Lampley, Wings Volunteer
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