Elijah and Elisha: Elisha

(Below is a letter I recently received from a dear friend.  Portions have been edited/omitted for privacy's sake.)

Dear Danika, 


I know how much you enjoy getting real mail.


I've had a few good conversations lately, with two people I know.  Neither was extremely focused; they felt like the way you would debrief someone after coming back from a mission trip--you tell them what God has done/is doing in your life.  It encourages them and grows their faith.  I feel like I've been doing that a lot, lately.


I thought of you a few days ago.  It seems as though you have been gone much longer than you really have.  I heard the intensive went well.  Yay!  I'm sure the next couple of weeks will be quite busy for you, as you go ahead and get ahead with your work for the semester, like you usually do.  I look forward to what God's going to use you to do this year.  I have no doubt that you will do great things for the glory of God.  After all, you already are.  


On Sunday night, we had small groups again.  It was the first time we were all together since classes ended last semester.  As you know, I had long since since been praying about who to disciple.  Earlier that day, I had read a chapter in Shane Claiborne's "Lead Me to Freedom" called "Who to Lead."  No coincidence.  The girl I had chosen showed up at my small group.  Unknowingly, she was put with me for a discussion question thing that we do, and later she sat with me to watch the video Bible study thing that we do.  It was on the theology of creation in Genesis, and the future of the church in a corrupt and immoral society.  She asked really good questions.  This girl gets it.  I smile.  She reminds me of myself, a bit.  I'm thoroughly amused, and excited to see what God does with her as well.  


(Elijah sought out Elisha; talk about a flashback.) 


On the other hand, it kind of freaked me out.  When I got home last night, it really hit me.  Life is fully going.  Let me explain.  When I think about it, I realize I'm about the same age you were when you met me.  It's like Elijah and Elisha all over again.  The thought scared me at first.  It was a sad thought, really.  Elijah was taken from Elisha, you know.  It's just weird to find myself in the same place you were a few years ago, especially since we're so similar.  Life has come full circle, in a sense.  When I thought about this, I can't say I didn't wonder if perhaps God has accomplished all that He has intended to use you for, as Elijah, in my life.  I don't know that for certain; I can't.  But I believe it to be true; I think so.  


I really hope you aren't crying, reading this.  I cried the last time I was with you.  Maybe I knew then, and perhaps that's why I cried.  


Every day seems so long, but things happen so fast.  I find myself asking God many hard questions as of late.  It's very much a "Where do we go from here?" sort of thing.  I'm going away for the summer, and then to college after a semester, and after that--eventually--the mission field.  And you will be working with Jews, someplace.  E. E. Cummings once said, "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."  It feels like such a long time has passed.  And that's where we are now.  It's such a cliche thing to say, but it makes sense.  


I have seen so much grace and mercy and love poured out over the past few years.  Neither of us is the same at all.  I know you've said that you love seeing me, now that I'm older.  It's quite the same with you, too; I love seeing what God is doing with you as well.  And I can't believe that this seems to be it.  It's so weird.  I'm not saying we won't be friends--of course we will!  We'll be the best of friends.  But I will miss Elijah.  In fact, that's sort of how I'm always going to think of you--as Elijah.  


Alright; I know you're probably crying or laughing right now, because you tend to do that when I write you.  But I just wanted to tell you that.


God is most certainly about to move, here.  I can feel it in the air, just like you can tell when it's about to rain.  I am quite glad this season in my life is ending.  Surely, God has greater things to do next, whatever they may be.  It's going to be a crazy journey, but I'm up for it.  


I climbed to the top of a parking deck in the city this weekend and looked out over the projects.  Twinkling lights dotted the land as far as I could see into the darkness.  The view reminded me of how big God is, and of my calling.  It made me terribly homesick for heaven.  And somehow, that seems to be the best sort of closure.  I am certain that God couldn't be any more faithful.  We are so blessed, love.  God is doing a very good work.  He is always with us, and has much more to teach us.  I am so grateful He put you in my life.


I hope you are encouraged.  I hope you're closer to God than you have ever been before.  Know that I am praying for you, always.  I love you so very much.


Love,


Elisha

Every Time I Breathe

I am sure all of heaven's heard me cry
As I tell You all the reasons why 
This life is just too hard
By day by day, without fail 
I'm finding everything I need
And everything that You are to me


Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never want to leave 
I want to stay in Your warm embrace
Basking in the glory shining from Your face 
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart
I realize it's true
That You are so marvelous, God
And I am so in love with You


Now how could I, after knowing One so great
Respond to You in any way
That's less than all I have to give?
But by Your grace I want to love You
Not with what I say, but every day
In the way my life is lived


Wrapped in Your mercy I want to live
And never leave
I am held by how humble
And overwhelmed by Your majesty
Captured by grace now I'm finding
I am free
You are marvelous, God
And knowing You is everything


("Every Time I Breathe," by Big Daddy Weave)




Writer's block is frustrating.  So many thoughts, but no words.  I sat down to my computer so many times, intending to write an end-of-year post, but I was at a loss as to how I could even begin to put the past year down in writing.  There have been towering mountains and plunging valleys along my spiritual journey this year; great joy, and great pain.  Even thinking about it is sobering.

New Year's Eve has long been my favorite holiday; the old is passing away, and the new is coming.  Last night's bonfire was the perfect way to celebrate.  The smell of woodsmoke, and the sight of sparks flying upward into the clear, starry sky above was breathtakingly beautiful, and brought relief and rest to my spirit.  Nearer to midnight, I was playing praise and worship songs on my guitar when I came across "Every Time I Breathe" in my songbook.  Perfect.

As I played and sang--and the New Year rang in--I realized what all of the events of the past year have in common.  So many times throughout 2010 I would pray, "Lord, draw me closer to you."  And He has been faithful to answer that prayer.  Through the calm and through the storm, He has never let me go, and is ever and always drawing me closer to Him.

The more I seek You
The more I find You


The more I find You
The more I love You


I want to sit at Your feet
Drink from the cup in Your hand
Lay back against You and breathe
Feel Your heart beat
This love is so deep
It's more than I can stand
I melt in Your peace
It's overwhelming


("The More I Seek You," by Kari Jobe)


"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."  (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV)


God never answers prayer the way I expect Him to; I suppose I ought to learn to expect the unexpected.  But He is always faithful to answer, and He never fails to seek the best for His beloved.  I have spent the past year learning to trust Him on an entirely different level; I have been to a desperate place of prayer, knowing that nothing and no one could save me apart from my God.  I have prayed, "Increase my faith!"  I have prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as You will."  I have prayed, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."  I have sat in silence and waited in acute anticipation of an answer... meanwhile the answer was being worked out in my heart as I waited.

He is faithful even when I am faithless; He has grown me up in faith, in the past year.  But I find this paradox at work--whenever I grow, I find that there is more of God to know.  Every year I grow, I find Him bigger.  Therefore, my prayer for the New Year is this, that I  might trust in the Lord with all my heart, and not lean on my own understanding, and to acknowledge Him in all my ways... and give Him glory.

Lead Me

Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams
But what about us?


Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone


("Lead Me," by Sanctus Real)


Revelations tend to hit me at two or three in the morning, when talking to good friends.  This one was no exception.  I have gone the whole of my Christian life without a mentor.  I have had people of great influence in my life, and I do not want to belittle anything that they have done; they have helped me immeasurably and have been an integral part of shaping my character.  I am grateful to them; they have taught me many things.  But I have always wished and prayed for something more... and I have almost given up on finding it.

Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave my definition of a mentor.  Early in my Christian walk, I looked long and hard for a mentor.  But my search was in vain.  Do you know why?  Because first and foremost, a mentor is an initiator.  A mentor is a person who can see in you what you cannot yet see in yourself.  A mentor is a person who can see the potential through all the pride and pretensions, and who makes it the object of their life to draw that potential out into the open.  I could ask a thousand people what they see in me; a mentor is a person who has seen it already.  It didn't do me any good to go looking for a mentor... because the mentor was supposed to have been looking for me.

"So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field.  There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team.  Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away.  Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, 'First let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will go with you!'  Elijah replied, 'Go on back, but think about what I have done to you." (1 Kings 19:19-20, NLT)


It is of no little importance that Elijah, the greatest prophet of his day, sought out his successor, Elisha.  Elijah found his young protégé hard at his regular work; Elisha was no slacker.  He was doing all that he knew to do.  But Elijah knew, because God had revealed it to him, that Elisha was destined to do greater things.  In one majestic and meaningful moment, the great prophet threw his own cloak over the shoulders of the young man and began to walk away--a clear invitation for Elisha to follow; to become all that Elijah was, and more.

For the next twenty years, Elisha would follow hard on Elijah's heels, seeking to become a holy man just like him.  Elijah invested himself in raising up Elisha to lead after him; he poured himself into Elisha's life, and spent himself for the sake of that one young man.  A mentor is not only an initiator; a mentor is also an investor.  Do you think it is any small coincidence that Christ himself spent most of his earthly ministry with a group of just twelve un-extraordinary young men?  And out of those twelve, he gave special attention to just three--Peter, James and John.  What was going on there?  Favoritism?  No!  Mentorship!

"'The person who trusts Me will not only do what I'm doing, but even greater things, because I, on My way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing.'"  (John 14:12, MSG)

Jesus knew that He was not long for this world; so he invested what time He had in those who would carry on His work after He had returned to His Father.  He gave all that He had in the short term, because He was thinking long-term; He saw far beyond the snapshot to the bigger picture.  Christ taught his disciples; He talked with and listened to them.  He spent countless hours with them.  He prayed for them.  He was not expecting an immediate return on His investment, and he received none--in His hour of greatest need, all but one of the twelve men he had poured three years of his life into, deserted Him.  But all save one went on to become the greatest leaders history has ever known; their message has spread to the ends of the earth; they changed the world.  This is the kind of self-sacrifice mentorship demands.  To be a mentor is to invest your whole self in another person; it is a risk, and you may never see a reward.   Count the cost!  Is it worth it?

"'I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.'"  (2 Corinthians 12:15, NKJV)

"Sometimes leadership is planting trees under whose shade you will never sit."  -Jennifer Granholm

Mentors are not only initiators and investors; they are also inspirers.  Their lives are exemplary; admirable and integrous.  Their depth of character convicts and incites others to action.  Their love for God is staggering.  Other people see them and think, "I want to be just like them."  Mentors have first been taught by God; passed like silver through the refining fires of trial and hardship.  Their journey with God has been strenuous; they have been pushed to the very limits of their faith.  A mentor is one who walks closely with God; who follows hard after Him.  That intimacy, lived out, is what draws the attention of others.  That is what puts an ache into the hearts of those who see.  That is the reason Elisha left the oxen standing in the field; that is the reason Peter, James and John abandoned their nets.  That is the reason the Apostle Paul could say:

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV)

A mentor requires no other qualifications or credentials than a relationship with God and a call from Him.  Christians are called to live lives of influence; they are called to mentor and to disciple!  Feelings of unworthiness do not exempt anyone!  Before he sought out Elisha, Elijah was hiding out in the desert, begging God to let him die.  He was utterly discouraged and despairing.  It took a glimpse of God's glory, and the intimacy of a whisper, to remind Elijah of his passion and purpose.  And the first task God set him?  Raising up leaders.  (1 Kings 19:1-18)

So, Father, give me the strength

To be everything I'm called to be

Oh, Father, show me the way to lead them

Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands

To stand up when they can't

So we can call this our home

Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

("Lead Me," by Sanctus Real)

Who, I wonder, will seek me out?  I am hard at my regular work!  Come and find me!  Surely you can see something yet to be drawn out in me?  Throw your cloak over my shoulders; I am willing to humble myself under you and be taught.  Are you willing to spend yourself for my sake?  I want to follow hard after you as you follow hard after Christ.  Lead me!

This is not just my prayer; this is the prayer of many young people!  Will you accept the call to mentorship?