Sunday night Isabel and I went to a play entitled “My Name is Rachel…(something or other…I forget her last name).” It was a monologue based on the journals of an American girl who went to Israel in 2003 as a peace activist, to protest the destruction of Palestinian homes in Gaza. In the end, she was killed during one of the demonstrations. It was an interesting play, and very well acted. I would have enjoyed it a bit more had I understood everything being said mind you (the role was obviously quite emotional, and as a result, the actress spoke very quickly at times…it made it a tad difficult for me to follow)…but a couple of things did stand out to me.

The first thing that struck me was the passion this young lady had for the calling she felt. The stand she took against the injustices she saw. One of the benefits of not understanding everything being spoken, was that the emotion and passion of the play struck me more intensely I think. This was a person who didn’t want to sit back and do nothing in the face of what she perceived to be wrongs being committed. Her passion drew her out of her comfort and culture, and into a place of unsurety and even possible physical danger.

The other thing I saw was that, in the midst of her passion and action, Rachel was just an ordinary person…like the rest of us. She laughed about how crazy taxi drivers were in Jerusalem and how much she enjoyed the family she lived with. There was a funny part about her meeting a good-looking Israeli man and her schoolgirl crush reaction to him. She was saddened by her father not understanding what she was doing and his decision to not write her while she was there (although in the end he did write her a letter).

She was just an ordinary person who’s beliefs and passions challenged her to live life in a un-ordinary way…

I listened to a sermon by John Piper the other day, “Don’t Waste Your Life”. Same title (and material) as his latest book. I found it pretty challenging. It’s not complicated, just the idea that no matter where we are or what God has called us to do, we can (should) live a life of passion for the things of God. That we should have the desire to step outside of ourselves and what makes us comfortable, and take risks for Christ. And that in Christ we can, and will, experience remarkable things.

There are people out there who think missionaries are somehow different than the average Christian…that they have this raging, constant fire in them that never seems to go out. I’ve met a few missionaries who fit that description for sure. They blow my socks off. In my experience though, most of us are the of the same “don’t mess with me when I’m tired or I’ll take you down” variety.

And yet, I can’t deny the desire in my heart to experience and be a part of the work of the Holy Spirit. To see the miraculous. I’m not necessarily talking about water into wine or bring ‘em back from the dead kind of miracles (although…come on, how cool would that be?!). But to see a life transformed by the love of Christ… To see someone set free from the sins and pain of their past… To know the presence of God and to be used by the Holy Spirit to be an example of God’s unconditional grace and forgiveness. Those kinds of miracles.

Of course you don’t have to be living in Bolivia to experience those kinds of miracles. Bolivia just happens to be where God called me. That’s the beauty of it. You can live in Toronto…or Saskatoon…or Kelfield for that matter…wherever, and still step out and do those un-ordinary things for Christ.

Not sure about you…but I kind of appreciate that.

I don’t want to live a life without significance. I don’t want to have regrets. I don’t want to waste what God has given me. I want to have that fire…that passion. I want to step out of myself and see what the Holy Spirit is doing…and be a part of it…

I want to experience the miraculous.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”