Sunscreen

It’s different here. We moved from the dry, rolling hills of the Pacific North West to the humid, balmy beach of Southern California. We made a decision and packed our belongings, stepping out in full faith and belief that Southern California existed though there was no way to experience it from the Pacific North West. We told our loved ones, hopped on planes or into cars, and made the journey from there to here. We have arrived, and things are different. Things are hard.

The sun beats down on us, shining more directly than we’re used to. Even when the sun does not shine, it gets caught under the clouds and reflects repeatedly off the clouds back onto our skin where it burns its mark on us. They told us it would hurt. They warned us of the conditions here. They said, “If you go to Southern California, you will endure suffering. Once you commit your summer to the life of Elevate, suffering will follow you. It will find you no matter what you do to avoid it. But here are some tips: Wear sunscreen, wear sunscreen, and wear sunscreen.”

Some are prepared. Some wear sunscreen. Some have been in similar conditions. Some are predisposed to be immune to the So Cal sun. Some of us have heard of sunscreen, so we smother it on our bodies, but we’ve never used it before. We don’t understand how to cover ourselves completely, and various parts of our bodies remain exposed. That person covered face and arms, but the lotion washed off in the salt water leaving legs exposed. That person tried to cover her back on her own, but couldn’t reach every part and has red splotches on her left shoulder and right lower back. And those of us who understood and loved sunscreen tried to tan but fell asleep in the sun, forgetting to rotate and burning from head to toe.

But we’re here for the struggle. We’re here to turn darker, to change. We’re to lean in when things hurt, because it’s supposed to hurt. When it hurts, we’re doing it right. So we put on sunscreen and pray deeply. Some of us know how to pray. Some of us have seen the power of prayer bring miracles unlooked for. Some of us have seen the power of prayer in long days and sleepless nights bring us closer to God, turning us into what he made us to be, bringing out the melanin, our true nature. We use prayer, the sunscreen and tanning lotion of Christ, to cover ourselves. We cover ourselves to protect us from the schemes of the devil. We cover ourselves to do God’s work. We cover ourselves to be people of God.

But sometimes we miss spots. We’ve all heard of prayer. We all understand it to some extent, but we all miss spots, and that’s why we’re here. We’re here to learn and grow. We’re here to learn how to pray and how to put on sunscreen, for they are the same. We’re here to learn that sometimes we need someone to cover our backs, we have to be honest and tell people what’s up. “I burnt these funny spots on my back I couldn’t reach yesterday. Could you please get them today?” We learn to cover every area of our lives in prayer, for prayer is more important than we realized. We’re here, under the direct rays of attack, and we’re learning to survive in this world.

Things to pray for:

Boldness and opportunity to share the gospel. Neither is useful without the other.

That I would fall in love with each person I come in contact with. Jesus loves them, and I want to love them too.

Culture shock is stupid. I knew Elevate would be different, but I forgot that San Diego is different. They have nasty smoothies, don’t carry Adam’s peanut butter, and drive like crazy people. All this wouldn’t be so bad if there weren’t other, larger issues I was dealing with, but these are the straws to break the camel’s back. Please pray that I would worship God through every difficulty. This is the time I can either raise my hands in clenched fists to God, or raise them in open worship. I’d rather worship.

I feel anxious about God’s plan for me. Other people are already seeing the reason God brought them here, and it makes me feel like forgetting that God’s plan is best and is always worth waiting for.