All the Poor and Powerless

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Day 1-- Travel Day 

Today is the first day of my backpacking trip through Europe. I cannot even describe how excited I am to begin this incredible adventure. I have dreamed about backpacking my way around the world for years, and the fact that I get to go through Europe with one of my very best friends, makes it even better.

In the short time that has elapsed since I left my parents in Dayton (it's been about 3 and a half hours), I flew to Chicago and enjoyed one of the prettiest views I’ve ever seen from a plane. It was an extremely clear night for flying, and it just so happens that I was flying at dusk and there was a gorgeous sunset on the horizon. I always love flying because I’m obsessed with the sky! So tonight, when I saw a gorgeous sunset and the fluffiest clouds ever, I was perfectly content to just sit and stare out the window while I listened to Spotify (the best app in existence). I’m not joking, the clouds were amazing. They were the kind of fluffy that you want to jump on when you’re a kid. And even though my fifth grade science teacher crushed that dream when she told me that clouds are basically air, I’m telling you, the clouds that I saw today almost had me fooled. The whole sight was gorgeous.

In this photo you can see the lake!

During my flight we traveled over Chicago and the great lakes. I could see the city perfectly and it was beautiful. I saw the building where my extremely talented and business savvy friend Luke works (the old Sears tower, I forget what it’s called now). And I saw the Bears and the Bulls stadiums (which made me think of the amazing Maggie Pender). I also saw a little park with four baseball diamonds. I could see little specks on the field, which made me think that the little kids playing in the outfield were probably bored to death (because I always was), and as a result they are probably watching our plane as it flies overhead. They’re probably really cute little kids, just waiting for their snacks at the end of the game. They’ll go back to their little suburban houses and probably start school soon. And as I was having these thoughts, the song “All the Poor and Powerless” (the Digital Age version) came on. I saw all these houses and kids and people doing their normal activities, living their lives, some poor and SO many powerless. Powerless to the temptations that they can’t break free from, powerless to stop their abusers, powerless to control their lives. Here I am with a gorgeous view and an amazing adventure ahead of me and I’m thinking about all the people in the world that I don’t know and these lyrics are blaring in my ears,

“All the poor and powerless. All the lost and lonely.

All the thief’s will come confess, and know that You are Holy.

All the hearts that are content, and all who feel unworthy.

All the weak with nothing left, will know that You are Holy.”

I know that I’m on an awesome trip, but I can’t help but be amazed that I am going to places bigger than Chicago, farther than Chicago. And no matter where I travel to, there will be more of these people; the poor and the powerless that need to know that He is Holy. They need to know that He is the opposite of powerless. Then the bridge begins, and it repeats these words over and over as the music gets louder and louder… “Shout it. Go on and scream it from the mountains, go on and tell it to the masses, that He is God.” And while I love traveling, and adventure, and doing fun things, I also know that there is nothing more important than the powerless people all over the world meeting a powerful God.

I’m hoping that this can be an adventure with a purpose. The same way that I want my life to be an adventure with a purpose. A series of obedient acts that help Him fulfill His purposes. A life that is the shadow of a great rock, filling people up with the power of God. I know that I’m going on a vacation, but I truly hope that every person I meet catches a glimpse of the power and the love that lives in me. It’s good practice anyways, because the real adventure begins in 16 days when I get back home.

 

Clarification: I wrote this post before I got on my plane to London, but was unable to post until now.