I may just be the stereotypical American girl: blue eyes, dirty-blonde hair, and a few freckles on pale white skin. I, however, had never really noticed this much until I landed in country where it was these exact characteristics that made me, well . . . noticeable. Our last day in Taiwan, we were residing in Yonghe in New Taipei. For the Lord's Day Table Meeting, the saints from Toledo were scattered into different meetings. I and three other younger saints attended the youth meetings, all four of us in different rooms that corresponded to different districts. Many of the saints in the room had attended the Saturday evening gospel meeting in which we had spoken concerning the youth, and they commented on how touched they were by the speaking. This gave me room to speak further with them. I spoke more about being empty—how, as youth, we are often ambitious. We are ambitious because there's something missing in us. They had been discussing the history of “The Lord's Recovery” and had spoken of countless people involved in the Lord's moving. Learning history is good, sure. But what's the point of learning history if we don't see the burden behind it? I asked the young saints, “What is it that even made these people willing and able to be vessels for the Lord's moving?” I don't care what their names were or what year they did what; I care that they were able to move for the Lord's moving. They were able not because they themselves were able, but because they realized they were empty; they needed to be filled to be useful. In the same way, we can only be useful vessels to the Lord if we allow Him to fill each crevice and corner, each nook and cranny. Our crevices, corners, nooks and crannies may be studying, our family, our friends, our social life, or anything. We have nothing—but how wonderful! After the meeting, I was excited—excited to fellowship more with the young saints, excited to hear what they enjoyed, excited to share more. I sat with about five or six teenage girls, and the first question asked of me was “How do you study with the Lord?” Encouraged by the earnestness and simplicity of the question, I spent much time answering carefully, and, basically, I spoke about not really “doing” anything to study with the Lord, but rather, being in a condition of knowing why I am studying. The Lord gave me school to deepen me, to bring me closer to Him and force me to face my life. I know my studying is for Him. I couldn't help thinking, “Wow. I am so joyful that these young people are really touched by our speaking and are yearning for more of Him.” The next question: “Were you born with eyes that color?” I froze for a second. What? What happened to our real fellowship? It wasn't the question that bothered me (I answered “yes,” of course), but rather the turn in condition our conversation was taking. Our time was short and precious! The countless times that I had been asked to take pictures with random people flew back into my mind. Am I really just a face? After our conversation, I went to the Lord. Lord, how can I be a proper testimony to people? I know they want something real, but for some reason, I'm distracting them! He brought me back to my own speaking from that morning: Who are we but empty vessels? If we are not filled with the Lord, we are nothing but an empty shell—a void. If I am filled with Him, then my outward characteristics don't matter; I will shine only because the Lord is in me. Our condition speaks for itself; if I am truly in the Lord, then every word, every gesture, and my very countenance will show it. I treasure that conversation I had with those girls. Even the silly questions don't bother me; I simply steer back to what the Lord is really saying. Our time is precious, and maybe I was born with eyes this color, but more importantly, I was reborn into a new being, reborn into the life of Christ, and I'm reborn every day to shed my outer man and turn to the life inside of me, which is the same in all of us. It's not blue, brown, or green, nor is it light, dark, black, yellow, or white. This life is the only life and it is the only thing we can ever truly share. -Logan S
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