The mighty little warrior capturing my vision is a ten year old lad. As I sit calmly on the shoreline, he and his surfboard are conquering humongous waves. His Uncle is standing watch and hand gestures him in a little closer, but this tyke only has his sight set on the next big wave. Not chilling fear, but thrilling confidence runs through his miniature muscles.
For near an hour, I’ve been mesmerized by this little boy defying ocean power, riding all the waves regardless of their might and celebrating every time he comes to a halt on the sand. My heart, too, rejoices in his victories and delights in his, from top of his head to tip of his toes, exuberant joy. Children are meant to be filled with the freedom of pretending to be a super hero and thoroughly occupied with having fun.
Suddenly, I felt a nudge to allow not solely my eyes, but also my soul, to capture the scene before me. It was then that I noticed this lad was donning bright blue swim trunks and was riding a brilliant yellow surfboard – Ukraine’s colors. My heart ached as it awakened to the contrast of one little American boy’s dream-filled day versus a multitude of Ukrainian youngsters’ war-filled nights. These little children might be oceans away, but they were created by God, just like the little boy surfing and on-looker me.
It’s ok for me to be an on-looker to another’s dream; but as a child of God, am I not called to be an active participant, at least through prayer, when nightmares overtake even distant little souls created by God? Shouldn’t the suffering of any, and all, youngsters hit home – including my and your abode?
Sadly, it seems many Americans have become so focused on scurrying around to find “what we want” despite disrupted supply chains that we overlook there are others who, without a life line, are in hiding with “nothing they need” to even survive.
Strange how a little boy surfing the ocean helped me dive beneath the surface and into the waves of war. Granted, I’m unable to do much, but I can do more – deeper prayer can led me, and you, to unite at God’s feet and beg His hands to cradle the innocent youth caught up in our war torn world. Above all, are we not called to pray for these tormented souls as family, not as distant foreigners?
As my thoughts began wondering if there is any Hope for the young lives enduring the plaque of war, God sent His assurance. The little surfer captivating my gaze, suddenly, met a monster of a wave which conquered him. Both the lad and the board toppled over and were momentarily submerged under the wave. Upon the two of them re-surfacing, the board was upside down. Never will I forget the little man dragging his “bottom up” board back onto the beach. For you see, the bottom of his surfboard was neon green – the color of HOPE.
God’s message to me was clear. HOPE can surface even after being toppled by all waves, and wars, in life. Nothing is beyond God’s power to bring us up from the depths of drowning fear and persecution. Will you join me in praying for God’s HOPE to carry the children of Ukraine (and all their countrymen) out of war’s nightmare and into the peace and freedom of SONshine? In unison, may we fervently pray for all God’s creations as family, not foreigners. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 