It was an early morning on warm summer day, and I was on a walking path beside the Chattahoochee River. As I walked, words rang in my ears, “children in cages."
Those words had been spoken into my life months earlier, and I was wrestling with God. Was He really asking me to step into this massive and scary world of human trafficking? He couldn’t possibly think that I had what it took to make any kind of impact. After all, there are over 40 million people enslaved. It’s a huge problem, and I’m way underqualified.
I had a million questions and doubts running though my mind. At the same time, I felt a deep and overwhelming heaviness, concern....maybe even a calling. What was this all about? Why couldn’t I shake those words? I was asking Him all of these questions.
And then my eyes fell upon a small rock. It was placed on the top of a brick column in a fence that separated the walking path from the river. I looked around. There wasn’t a soul in sight on this early morning. I walked over to the rock and took it in my hand. I saw that it had some words written in tiny handwriting. Beside the writing was some artwork.
I read the words:
UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S NOT.
I quickly put the rock back exactly where I found it. I was stunned. Maybe in denial. I rushed away, thinking "That can’t be for me. Nope, that’s crazy and definitely not for me.”
Yes, I was definitely in denial.
I continued my walk. My legs moved faster and faster. What was I running from?
The further and faster I walked, the more it became clear: that rock was absolutely for me. I walked for probably 30 minutes, wrestling with the idea that God was calling me into anti-trafficking work. It seemed unreal.
Finally, I turned around and headed back the way I came. I found myself hoping the rock was still there. I thought that if it were still there, if someone else hadn’t scooped it up, then I would know it was for me. If it was still there, I would know that He was leading me down the path of rescuing and restoring the lives of trafficking survivors.
My pace quickened. By the time I was 100 yards out, I was almost yelling inside, “Please, please let it still be there! I want to do it! I want to be part of something bigger than me! I want to change the world. Please!”
It was still there. This time as I read the words, they almost screamed at me.
UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S NOT.
Did you just read that? Do you get it? Unless someone like YOU cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
Friend, YOU have the opportunity to make things better. What does this mean for you? Is there a dream, a prompt in you heart? Is there a passion that’s taking over your thoughts? Is there an existing work that speaks deeply to you? Is there a way you can invest your time, talents, or resources to make this world better?
We're figuring it out with His help. The world, including human trafficking survivors, is counting on us.
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