An Invitation

I’ve been waiting for a good time or at least a large dose of inspiration to begin writing again. It’s been over a year and I am simply accepting that it is never going to be a “good” time and I no longer believe there is hope for a large dose of inspiration. The time is now. I must begin to share and try and communicate the journey which has led me to say “yes” to an invitation to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro.

It was over a year ago when I received a phone call from Belinda Bauman. Although we were Facebook “friends” I had only met her once in person. As the wife of the CEO of World Relief, the organization I traveled to Cambodia a few years ago with, I was interested in following her work, her travels, and the things she posted about her family. I could tell, as much as one can from her social media posts, we shared a similar struggle for balancing the responsibilities of family with the responsibility of trying to elevate the voice of those around the world who are marginalized. I didn’t know her personally well, but I what I did know, I respected.

It was a bit of surprise to receive a phone call from her. Thinking back, I’m not sure how she even had my phone number. She immediately acknowledged that her phone call must seem out of the ordinary. Then she asked me if I was sitting down. She then preceded to spend about 15 minutes explaining why she felt God had specifically given her my name to ask to join her in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thinking back to the phone call, I remember sitting at my kitchen table listening and simply being flattered and very humbled that she would think God put my name on her heart. I didn’t really pay much attention to the details of the larger vision of the hike and I didn’t give the actual hiking a gigantic mountain much weight. I was simply in awe that someone thought of me.

I didn’t immediately answer, “Yes!” Actually I would struggle for months afterwards wondering how I should respond. When I finally spoke I said, “I will think and pray about it and no matter what my answer is, please know how thankful I am to be thought of. I am so flattered and touched that you even thought of me.” And I was. I truly was deeply touched that God put my name on someone else’s heart and they took the time to tell me.

To be thought of. For someone to think of us and then take the step to tell us that they are thinking of us. To be acknowledged. I think this is one of the most basic needs we have in life. This phone call would be the beginning step of another life journey. No inspiration necessary, just an invitation.