Lose Your Cool

Credits go to Zach Hunter's book, Lose Your Cool (pg28)

Can you imagine being twelve years old and praying, “God, send me where no one else will go.”? This is a prayer that a newfound friend of mine prayed when she was only twelve. She reminds me of Amy Carmichael (featured in Lose Your Cool) in many ways.

Her name is Asha and she was born in Nagaland, India- one of the smallest states in north eastern India. Asha learned about Jesus from her mother, who she said was a devout Christian. With her father, though, it was a different story. In a conversation I had with her, she said, “My dad was an alcoholic so you can imagine my childhood was not that beautiful for me. When my other friends were playing, I remember I locked myself inside my room- crying and praying and fearing what the evening would bring. But my mother was an ardent follower of Jesus Christ. It was through my mother that I learned to get down on my knees and spend time in prayer.

Despite the hard times my father gave to us as a family, my mother never spoke ill about my father to us. She always kept reminding us that dad has a sickness and it will take some time to get healed so we have to continue praying for him. Honestly, at times I got so frustrated seeing my dad drunk all the time but I think that in so many ways that has created in me the heart and voice to speak out for those in pain and agony who are voiceless. Growing up in my family has also prepared me to understand the struggles, frustrations and the shame of those affected and infected by such problems.”

Asha knew what suffering was at an early age, but at the age of twelve she became a follower of Jesus. She was at a revival meeting at her church when she heard a voice telling her, “Come follow me.” So she got up and went to the front, with everyone watching her. She didn’t know what was happening inside of her, but when she got to the front the pastor put his hands on her and said, “Child, God has called you to be salt and light for Him.” Looking back on the experience, she says, “I didn’t understand a thing, but that very night I met God. I didn’t really know whether it was a dream or a reality but it was in this meeting that I was convinced that I’m needed for God’s service; and so then and there I surrendered my all to Him and ever since then there has been no turning back.” It was during that same year that Asha prayed that God would send her where no one else would go. When I asked her why she would pray such a radical, and pretty scary, prayer, she told me that, “I don’t know what made me utter such a prayer, but one reason is that I was just different. Different in the sense that I didn’t usually think things people of my age should be thinking. Since my childhood, I have always fought for justice and equality, and always advocated against prejudice and discrimination. People sometimes thought that I was crazy, but from a very early age I had the heart and courage to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ It breaks my heart when I see people been treated unjustly, and when I hear people saying nasty things about people such as alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and so on. I also don’t think I prayed such a prayer because I knew that I would have the heart for these people. Honestly, it was just a very innocent prayer.” Innocent, hmmm? We shall see… Asha grew up, and felt God calling her towards a ministry to the very people she had cared about from a young age- the drug addicts, the alcoholics, the prostitutes the outcasts of society. These are the people she associates with.

Asha hangs out in a place where no one thinks that a “good girl” should hang out- the red light district. “I can identify myself with the people that I work with easily. I can go and dance in the bar with these women, I can sit along with them and enjoy their company as they drink, I can spend time with addicts and alcoholics listening and laughing around with them, I can be with the poor and be like them, I can go to the movies with these women where all men will be staring but I don’t care as long as I’m able to portray the love of Christ in and through me.” Jesus hung out with the prostitutes and the tax collectors, and the “sinners”; and all the religious leaders of his day looked down on him for that, but he didn’t care and neither does Asha. When I asked Asha if she knew about Amy Carmichael, she got really excited, saying, “Amy Carmichael is one person I admire and respect so much. Her passion, her love for God and for people and her commitment to serve Him is just outstanding. I don’t know whether I’d be able to make such a big sacrifice. [NOTE: this is coming from a woman who has given her life to minister to prostitutes.]

"Especially knowing about the living standard in the west and here in India, I don’t think many people from that side of the world would be able to sacrifice as much Amy did. I think her life has also inspired and motivated me to make bigger sacrifices and also encouraged me that no matter what people say, I should go on with what God has planned for me. Much like her, I have also complained a lot, prayed a lot for my eyes. I am from Nagaland, the North eastern States of India. Nagas are more Asian and oriental looking. Whenever I go to India, people think I’m from China because of my small eyes. But after reading Amy’s story I was so encouraged because China is one place that has always been very close to my heart. I have heard a lot about the underground churches and persecutions that Christians there face so I’ve always wanted to go there as a missionary and I certainly believe that one day I’ll get to go. So when that happens I’ll definitely let you know.”

Asha spoke at a conference that I also spoke at, and I met her there. She is a very petite woman who is full of energy. You can tell that she loves the people she works with. Like Amy Carmichael, she as working to make someone else’s life better. But when I asked who she believes is the most passionate person who has ever lived, she told me that it was Jesus. “Yesterday, today and forever the most passionate person I have known and from whom I draw courage and strength in times of doubts and fears is the Son of God. The way He passionately dealt with the Samaritan woman [John 4:1-42], and then with the woman caught in adultery [John 8:1-11] constantly keep reminding me that I am dealing with lives that are fragile and I need to pray for a heart like that of Jesus, a passionate heart with full of compassion.”

Wow, this is amazing. I can’t imagine what she does every day, and the looks she probably gets because of who she hangs out with. Asha doesn’t care what people think of her, or the looks she gets, she just cares about loving the “unlovable” the people the world sees as “sinners”.

This is something that is important. Sometimes in making a difference, in being the change we want to see, we have to do something unpopular – or appear peculiar or weird. Asha has given up her life to a cause that is widely unpopular. Many times, the people who need our attention and our love are not the popular ones, not the people that your group of friends would hang out with- but those are the people that Jesus associated with. So when you are thinking about how to make a difference in the world, trying to figure out what to get passionate about, start right where you are, with the lonely, and the brokenhearted, and the downtrodden – on your campus – in your home – in your comunity.

“To me passion simply means living out my heart, my dreams, and my visions that God has given me to live out for Him in His service.” Asha

I just felt compelled to copy and paste this on here so that everyone may have a chance to read this. I don't know if Zach Hunter is a famous guy or not, but I recently heard about it, went on his site, and read this. I liked it and was moved by it, and so yeah :P!
Hope you all liked it as much as I did. :)

J-xoxo