And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14
I once had a college minister tell me, “How could we as humans have known God if he had not moved towards us, put on flesh, and showed us who he was in Jesus?”
It was this verse and experience that came to mind this week as I spent some time with a group of Latino ministers who desire to raise up the next generation of leaders on the college campus. I was so inspired by them, was moved by their faith, and was given a picture of the kind of person I want to become as I seek to follow our redeemer into the broken places of the world. It was a beautiful time.
But I noticed over our time together that there was also a sudden and growing ache in me that was awakened over those few days. As I met different men and women who were leaders in this ministry and saw how they shepherded and cared for the younger leaders in their midst, I often found myself near tears. I was feeling pain but wasn’t sure of the source it was coming from in me.
There was one specific moment that was particularly telling of what was going on inside me and helped me get to the root of things. I was with several women listening to them talk about identity and how they related to the story of Moses that we had been reflecting on together. One of the women in the group vulnerably shared with the everyone, “I’m afraid to even say this out loud, but much like God was calling Moses to stop hiding and step into the calling of leadership, I think the next step God is calling me to is to be a leader in this ministry.” I was overcome with emotions as she spoke, hearing my own timid voice in hers, knowing that I’ve felt that same reluctant spirit in me as God has called me to step out into more.
Right then another strong Latina leader looked at her and said, “Yes, it is time. You’ve been hiding from this for long enough. Its time to be the leader God has called you to be.” It was such a powerful moment for me to see an older Latina mentor speak worth into a younger leader to draw her out and call her to fully live out the story God was inviting her into. I wanted to cry, and I wasn’t quite sure why.