Rescue

My friend, Janet, recently returned from Uganda. She told many touching stories but the one that grabbed my heart was this.

Our church partners with Africal Renewel Ministries to sponsor children. The sponsorships include education, a free daily meal, and medical care. Janet was in the ARM's office while they were bringing parents in to let them know their child had been sponsored. These families wait on a list for long periods of time. Every parent was grateful to have a child chosen. But one woman was profoundly moved. When she was told her child was to be sponsored, she fell to the ground with her hands in the air blessing our church and blessing God.

That woman and her child experienced a rescue. It must have felt like a weight that wore marks in this mom's shoulders was no longer present. Like a hope and a joy came in like a rush, bringing her to the floor in relief.

When I write the word rescue, I think of many things. The times Jesus has rescued me from myself. The beautiful rescue of friends that I didn't think would ever understand his love. The raw rescue of the woman at the well. The rescue of my marriage by a Jesus who intervenes in our stories with intimacy and touching strength. The surprising rescue in the knowledge of a gospel that is more beautiful than I ever imagined. The way Jesus rescued Zaccheus while he watched life pass him by from a tree. I could go on and on.

So, I want to ask... how have you been rescued? What has brought you, body and soul, to the ground in relief?

It is a big question. Do you dare answer it?

Jesus, you are our rescue. Our only hope, our very sure future. May we consider how you have loved us and out of the overflow of that love, live out your rescue on this earth. In Uganda, at the grocery store, as we tuck our kids in at night. Amen.

(I recently found out that Amen means - So be it.)