We followed steep paths up the crags and planted flags of courage, of commitment and rekindled trust. Carefully woven fig leaves were relinquished to the fire — garments fashioned over many decades to keep us safe (and make us look good). We cannot summon the lightning, or conjure the presence we so long for. But we can surrender, betting the whole farm on His love for us.
Good principles. Insightful strategies. Gurus around every corner with a new ten step plan. If the change in us was equal to the resources at our disposal, we would be the most transformed generation to ever wander the planet. Is it possible that life is less of a puzzle to solve, and more of a gift to unwrap? Not something to figure out but something to open up to?
Did you hear what the spiritual seeker asked the pizza chef?
“Make me one with everything”
Old joke, but our desire for connection is a clue to God’s desire for us. Our unique, beautiful “onlyness” finds its highest expression in communion with one another. Darkness separates, but Love unites. And united we stood - seventeen warriors who took the risk of wagering everything on His great affection for us.
God does not love you because you are a good boy. But, because He loves you, your desire is to grow more and more into His likeness. This is the mystery of Grace. A transformative force that makes beauty – not through fear of judgement and exclusion - but by gloriously including us, without exception.
For three and a half days, fourteen brave adventurers stepped up to the line where the light and the fire meet. It was hard and beautiful, bitter-sweet and rich, a hurricane and a gentle healing wind.
Through our times alone in the veld, and our celebrations together around the fire, we unveiled glimmers our true identity - the Original You.
Ann Voskamp phrases it beautifully : “When you want the man that began you to bless you — to say that you are one of his dreams come true, that you are what he hoped for, you are his desires and love incarnated and there is nothing he will leave behind that compares to the masterpiece of you changing the world and everything coming ahead. Sometimes what you want most is your father to give you the greatest gift anyone can give someone: for him to believe in you.”
