“A relationship with God gives us the strength to carry the weight of the world and the faith to know we will never be asked to” – Anonymous

Looking back at the past year, I can see Gods fingerprints pressed throughout, and I board this flight confident that God knew I would be doing prison ministry long before I did. I can see how he has pruned and shaped me into the exact person who sits on this plane, dreading the 26 hours of flights that lie ahead.

See, thats the truth. I sat down, wondering how I could conure up some overly spiritual “Let it begin” blog post, and I’m confronted with the truth; That plane rides suck, the orange juice has too much Ice and I either have a headache or can feel one coming. Im sitting on a flight to Detroit and I feel like I should be giddy with anticipation of what God has in store, and to some extent I am; but in reality, I’m just now realizing the realities of what we have all been asked to give up to follow this calling.

Giving up summer jobs and the income associated with them? Easy. Giving up 8 weeks to go to South Africa? Easy. Saying goodbye to my family and friends? Easy. Whats less easy is letting go of the things you didn’t know you were holding onto, letting certain hopes die off in exchange for uncertainty, trading the traditional for the unconventional.

Its not just Denver we’re flying away from. Its certain relationships that can no longer be, its conversations that can no longer occur. Its dreams that we can no longer afford to dream and we trade it all in exchange for a promise. That promise is this: That life with Jesus is life to the full. That life following him and sharing his Glory is full of realization, fulfillment and passion, and life without him is no life at all.

We will cling to that promise and hold it dear. We will pray big things because we know God is capable of big things. We will follow him wherever his calling takes us and trust he will take us where this promise will ring true.

Unto the breach once more,

D.M.