Roof Hoppers: From Glory to Glory

There comes a time during the night when a silence, a stillness creeps out from its slumbers and beckons to be broken. Teenagers seem to have a sixth sense of when this time occurs as no hour or minute can notify one of its arrival. So naturally, back then, I had the "brilliant" idea of roof hopping. 

Roof-hopping = the act of climbing on top of roofs (mainly school  and church buildings as they are the tallest and most deserted) in the dead of night to partake in shannanagans such as dancing, hide-and-seek, making music, and star gazing. 

All of us have experienced the thrill that comes from some secretive rule breaking. And so it was, that every now and then I would rally up some friends when it was "time" and we would embark upon this stupidity. 

Not only is roof-hopping dangerous, it is also very illegal. With this in mind, we would let our youthful "immortality" override our common sense which would try to talk us down inside our heads. There were a few schools in the area we knew very well. Slinking along in the dark, we would make our way to the "entry points" (all those big electrical boxes or drain pipes that made it an easy-up). As the "oh my gosh we could get in big trouble" factor crept in, we were on full alert with eyes wide and hair raised. Some times cops would pull in the parking lots and check the premises. If we saw them coming in early, we had two choices: stay and hide, or get down and run.

There were a few times where the cops got out of their car and searched the school on foot. More than once, we played a cat and mouse game with them, rarely getting caught. And other times we did get caught; like a shine a flash light, interrogate you, scare you, and threaten to arrest you kind of caught. Somehow, that never seemed to be too much of a threat for us to learn our lesson, we just had to grow out of it. We never did get arrested though!

Looking back, I can see how incredibly stupid all that nonsense was. But, I wouldn't change any of it as I have wonderful memories (fun and scary) of those chaotic adventures. 

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

The first part of this verse talks about the change that happens when we meet Jesus. "Open face" means that God has taken the veil away form our eyes and has given us understanding. The second part means that once that has happened, it is as if we look into a mirror (a glass) and see Jesus because He is reflected in us "by His Spirit". And the third part of this verse describes the continual change in us from natural to super-natural beings as we allow God's Spirit to fill us. He changes us and takes us "from glory to glory." If we continue to allow God to have full control over our lives and decisions, He will never change us in a way that is bad. He will only take us from "roof" to "roof". Sometimes the way God changes us is so intense we sometimes never even attempt to climb onto the roof. Sometimes, we get too scared and climb down, never able to experience the glory and awesomeness  And sometimes, we make bad decisions and those pull us down from the roof, down from experiencing God's good changes grace, and blessings. What keeps us moving "from glory to glory"; hopping from roof to roof? 

In those days, there was always one person in the group who was always too scared and too smart to be coerced into our endeavors.  In the end, we usually didn't go (probably for the best), so that they wouldn't be left behind. As humans, things that are super-natural frighten us because we are naturally natural (lol) before God enters our lives. I encourage you to see the fear as a healthy awe of God's greatness and to have it act as an enticement to pull you onto that roof and into His glory.

Those stories are not examples of things one should do but just stories of stupid things I did that you shouldn't do. :  )

Here's a few updates on my life and the mission house:

• The discipleship house I run is undergoing a lot of changes in its program
• It will now be a "transitional house" (90 days to get in, get it, and get out)
• House is not available to those in the program from 800-1600hrs
• Girls who are a part of the program must be looking for work  or studying during those hours
• Business cards and phone numbers of places applied must be brought to me at the end of the day so I can check in and provide further information to employers

I was getting way too overwhelmed and was about to crash and burn a few weeks ago. God graciously provided me with a few days in a rural village called Bambisana in the Transkei. Although I didn't get any physical rest, God filled my cup and helped me surrender my "burdens" to Him with lots of spiritual rest. With these new changes in the house and in my head and my heart I am feeling refreshed and at peace. Thank you all for your prayers and support. If you would like any further info on the Transitional Housing program we run please message me!