The South Dakota Pennsylvania teams didn’t only bond together and with us, but with everyone they seemed to meet. Their goals were similar and seemingly simple: Show Jesus, love well.
These seem simple because they don’t involve four syllable words, they don’t come with a lot of instructions, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of pressure to perform a certain way with it. But in reality that’s what makes these difficult. Showing Jesus looks different for everyone, as does loving well. There are hundreds of tests online to figure out “love language” or “what does love look like?” There’s debate, is “love” a verb or a noun?
The fact is, it’s both. The fact is, these groups did show Jesus, and did love well. How? Simple, by keeping their focus on Jesus, listening to Him and obeying Him. Which isn’t simple. Those two concepts; loving well and showing Jesus, involve submission, obedience, and staying in tune with God through the Holy Spirit. It also involves honor. A foreign concept in today’s society, putting others before yourself, making sure that others receive the recognition that they are worthy of before you receive your own.
These groups made honor a top priority by wanting to show Jesus’ love, well.
I can hear my writing instructors telling me, “show me, don’t tell me.”
So, here is an example. On one of our first nights leading worship and leading a Bible study one of the young men raised his hand before either of us got a word out. We promptly called on him and he asked, “May we, the participants, pray over all of our leaders?” Baffled, and humbled by this act of altruism we agreed. I am not ashamed to say that I cried. To be surrounded by students from different backgrounds and hear their prayers for us as leaders, I was humbled and deeply honored to serve.
They held doors, always asked about helping, were ready to play, laugh and jump into the hard and uncomfortable. Except for maybe the basement… But that is a type of uncomfortable that takes time to adjust to.
When I look back on that group, I remember their generosity with love, understanding and honor. They did accomplish their goal. They showed Jesus, and love, very, very well.
