Arrows Pointing to the Father
“He [John the Baptist] said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.’ “ (John 1:23)
John the Baptist was known for many things, but his main work was to point toward the message and life of Jesus Christ. He was considered even by Jesus as the greatest of men (Matthew 11:11). John’s work was to announce the coming of Christ to humankind and to point people toward living in ways that are good and pleasing to God. He was focused, wise, and unconventional even up to the time of his imprisonment and death. His life is admirable in that it teaches us that using our lives to honor God isn’t the same as achieving worldly success. At Rewritten, we hope to honor God by also pointing people toward him since he’s the true source of meaning and life.
Most of us have been influenced by culture, people, experiences, beliefs, media, etc. that have pointed us in the direction where we’re headed in life even if we’re not always aware of it. It can be helpful to take stock of our lives, to ask ourselves where we’re going, and to recognize what or who is pointing us toward that life path. At Rewritten, we try to consistently act as signposts pointing young people toward God the Father and his direction and ways.
As our CEO, Frank Perez, shared with workshop participants in our mentoring and scholarship program, they “have to reckon with the realization that…[their] biological father is not here, he may never be here, and this won’t change. That helps to begin healing when we recognize the truth and the weight of that.” It’s not a happy realization, but it’s an important one because once we accept the hard truth of a situation for what it really is, we can begin to deal with next steps and healing. It’s in that place and time that we hope to offer help that’s substantial and lasting, so these young people, and all of us, can move forward into better futures.
Recognizing the truth and facts of the situation is an essential part of healing. Only the person involved can tell if they’re truly looking at this honestly. Praying and asking God to reveal the truth and the sources of pain helps. Also, it’s key to think about what reconciliation could even look like in real life. Sometimes, a situation can turn around dramatically, but in others, it’s a subtler shift of focus to a new understanding and acceptance of what’s true. Recognizing these realities while remaining in a position of peace and wellbeing helps to move forward. Continued restoration is found as we cultivate our relationship with God through prayer, study of the Bible, and in participation in a healthy community of believers. The more someone directs their life toward God, the more likely they’ll find that they have a deeper wholeness.
That’s what we hope for in our programs– we may be teaching young people about money, life skills, or academics, but it all points back to God who can heal them from the pain of fatherlessness. The next step in the right direction is always toward God who welcomes us, as John 8:32 states: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”