Why I Go

In moments I’ll be off for Uganda. Time and eloquence are not on my side, but I need to write this. Hopefully it will make a little sense.

In one sense, I am going to Uganda because it is a good thing to do. It’s a good and decent thing to lead a trip of high schoolers to Africa to see, taste and experience. I’m excited to see how experiencing the Lord, the church, and life in an entirely different way impacts these students. I can’t imagine it not being a paradigm shaking experience.

On the other hand, this is a mission trip. It’s easy just to hug kids and leave. But we are going to spread the kingdom of God in a dark, dark place. If I look at myself honestly, the question I am asking is this: Will it prevail?

I want to experience what John Piper is talking about. (Watch out for some awkward hand gestures in this clip.)



On a cerebral level, I’ve been taught that this is true. But it is an entirely different thing to experience and live like that is true.

I want to see Truth defeat Lies in a real way. My favorite author, Leif Enger, of my favorite book, Peace Like a River, talks about miracles, reality of Truth in a world of lies.

‘Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it’s been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week – a miracle, people say, as if they’ve been educated from greeting cards. I’m sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word.’

‘Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature. It’s true: They rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. Lazarus obeying orders and climbing up out of the grave – now there’s a miracle, and you can bet it upset a lot of folks who were standing around at the time. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of the earth.’

‘My sister, Swede, who often sees to the nub, offered this: People fear miracles because they fear being changed – though ignoring them will change you also. Swede said another thing, too, and it rang in me like a bell: No miracle happens without a witness. Someone to declare, Here’s what I saw. Here’s how it went. Make of it what you will.’

In conclusion, what I’m looking for in this trip is this: To experience that raging love of God is greater than the most reckless evil. And Uganda is where I have seen the face of evil.

Or as the Boss more eloquently puts it, ‘I want to know if love is wild. I want to know if love is real.’

It’s high noon and more is at stake than what we can see, feel, or understand. It’s Jesus vs. Satan. The Word of God vs. the will of the Earth. Truth vs. Nothingness.

Am I exaggerating? Maybe. But maybe not.

Hopefully this made a little sense to those of you who read this far. Next time I check in, I’ll be on the dark continent.

peace love and the Man above,
dave


“I am still confident of this: I will live to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living.” – Psalm 27