Holy Ground

I met a pastor once for coffee who wanted to talk about outreach ministry with me. That's really all I knew, and as I didn't know this pastor either, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would speak for me and guide our meeting. 

One of the things he asked, was how I thought he could develop a missional heart and mindset​ within his congregation. Gulp. (Um, let's see. I felt entirely inadequate as my heart pounded. Now, if only he had asked me how to cook a good roast in the crock pot or fold a load of towels...) When he saw my hesitation, he rephrased the question and asked me how *I* had developed a missional heart and mindset. That was easy and I think I ended up answering both questions. I said, "It was out of my own brokenness and pain. I came to terms with my need for God and others. He was there for me. People were there for me. We have to come to terms with our own brokenness." Seriously, the poor guy. I think it was his turn to gulp. He then told me, "I didn't expect you to say that. Interesting." 

While I certainly can't speak for everyone and wouldn't be so foolish as to think I could, isn't most of our heart for outreach and service born out of our own brokenness? And yet sadly, many sit in the pews in denial of their brokenness and/or in shame of it. That is a another blog right there, but guess what? You're not alone! You want to serve, but you're not feeling it? You want to love better, but you're feeling rough edged instead? Don't know how to start? Look where you are standing, sitting or walking these days. There is your current mission field. Period. It's going to change throughout the day, week, month, year and lifetime but you will always find yourself somewhere. That "somewhere" is your mission field and the people with you are your harvest. 

Feel cold? Think about the areas of deepest sadness in your life or greatest struggle. How did that feel for you? What were you given that made a difference? Or, what did you need or wish you had been given? Be that "given" and go out and satisfy that "need" for another. We love, because He indeed, first loved us.

Too often I have fallen prey to thinking mission must be big and grand. It can be, and it depends also on how God might define those words. Your calling may look completely different than the next person's. Jesus mostly walked and talked; he stood in a boat to teach; he sat and ate. All holy ground.

Hands carry, hold, and express. Eyes exude warmth and understanding. Ears listen. Minds conceive. Legs move us. Shoulders carry burdens. Hearts hold compassion. Posture says, "I'll be in this with you."

Look where you are and be conscious of your holy ground. It may not be where you thought, but it's the place where the Spirit is empowering you to love like Jesus.