Go Beyond

Kolkata, India

I have absolutely enjoyed my time in Kolkata with our high school graduates. Our students have demonstrated a maturity beyond their years as they have compassionately ministered to others. Every evening, we conclude our day with a time of worship and debriefing. This is my favorite time of the day because I get to hear about what our students experienced in their own words. Last night was especially moving as our students prayed for particular individuals they have served this week. A few wept as they prayed. It’s obvious that our students have been deeply moved by all they have seen and experienced here. Afterwards we took a few minutes to share humorous stories about something that has happened this week. Lots of healthy laughter! And finally, we took time to pray for our fellow Kingsland students who are serving in six other locations around the world.

As our students shared their personal stories last night, I thought about one of my favorite Mother Teresa quotes: “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” I am proud of our students for allowing God to use them to write a legible message of love through their lives this week. They have communicated a clear message by loving and serving others in the name of Jesus without any conditions and without expecting anything in return. This week they have joyfully served those who possess nothing or who have very little at best. In some cases we have only been able to offer a smile, but as Mother Teresa said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” So, even a smile is not wasted but serves a purpose in the story that God is writing through each of our lives.

When I consider the example of Mother Teresa and her continuing influence long after her death, I am challenged to consider what God is writing through my life. In order for Him to write a clear and legible message through my life I have to yield control of each stroke of the pencil to Him. If I try to wrestle control away from Him then the message becomes garbled and confused. As a young Christ-follower I learned a little poem that expresses the importance of writing a clear message by the way that we live:

You are writing a gospel,
a chapter a day,
by the deeds that you do
and the words that you say.
Others read what you write,
distorted or true,
So, what is the gospel,
according to you?

In order to write a message that others understand, we need to place ourselves in the hands of the Author of love. Only then will we become a letter of recommendation for Christ (2 Cor. 3:2-3). Our students have allowed God to use them to write a message of love on the parchment of service this week. And, the best part is that this message does not require a translator. Anybody can understand it. The poor children we have served, the residents in Mother Teresa’s homes, and the girls in the aftercare have all understood every loving word that God has written with our little pencils. But what about you? Have you placed yourself in the hand of the only one who can write a legible message of love through your life? Allow God, the Author of love, to write a love letter through your life, today.