Living Courageously

Father, hear the prayer we offer.
Not for ease that prayer shall be,
But for strength that we may ever
Live our lives courageously.
--Love M. Willis

Tomorrow I'm going to the funeral of a classmate of mine from OC, Adam Langford. Adam was serving in Uganda when he and another leader of the Jinja church, Moses Kimezi, were killed in a car accident. You can read about the details at the Chronicle or read the beautiful tribute my friend, Ben, wrote.

One of my current favorite songs is "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer. It talks about the frustrations in being an idealistic youth feeling powerless to change anything. That is certainly a temptation, to throw our hands in the air and bemoan the world generations before have left us with, but there are those who will stand up to be the change. I have been incredibly blessed to be in a community that encourages the strength, compassion, and courage to go into the world to make a difference.

I think that courage is the willingness to sacrifice without thinking of it as such. When I think of my friends who are involved in some of the toughest ministry situations, I know without a doubt that if you thanked them for their sacrifice, they would be quick to say that they don't see it as a sacrifice. It is a joy driven by love and a fulfillment that can only come when living within God's will for your life.

My heart aches for the Langfords, the Kimezis, and the church in Jinja. But already I can see that amidst the weeping there is joy and celebration for these men who lived lives of services and compassion to God's children.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted by not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. -- I Corinthians 4:7-11

For those interested, there is contact information in the Christian Chronicle story on where you can make donations to help the Kimezi and Langford families .