Postcards
From
Whitney
Browning
Three years ago I found my feet
standing on a dusty road on top
of Spain’s mountains. Looking
out, the view was spectacular. The rising
hills in the distance that surrounded
our team beckoned a memory of home
in West Virginia, but the lesson I was
learning was far different than anything
I had learned up to that point. Yet,
that lesson has come back in increased
intensity over the last few months as I’ve
watched leaders from around the world
meet the needs in their communities.
The lesson? Look up.
It’s easy to hop on an airplane, gaze
out the window and look out over all
the land, the sea, the clouds, and the
expanse of the sky. It’s even easy to
adventure through a new country and
look out at the geographical grandeur,
the rich culture, and all the exciting
unknowns just waiting to be discovered.
Sometimes, however, what proves to
be more challenging is simply looking
up instead of looking out. Sometimes,
instead of taking in everything all at
once, while good to do, I’ve had to
learn to simply focus in and see what’s
directly in front of me. Recently, looking
out at present circumstances can
prove overwhelming. So, this season is
teaching me, and I hope to share with
you, to look up. Look up to the One
who holds tomorrow, and let Him teach
us all how to look up at those around us.
In the midst of current events and
COVID-19 clearing my schedule of
most travel, especially internationally,
this lesson has brought me to a posture
of intentionality in the place my feet are
planted. Meaning, when driving down
the road and seeing a neighbor pass out
in her driveway, I’ve had to learn to look
up, see the need, and act.
Biblically, I’m reminded of the story of
the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 where
a man is beaten, battered, and bruised.
Those who know what they should do,
perhaps, theorize the proper response,
but don’t act. Only one man does, and
it’s the Good Samaritan who chose to
look up.
Around the world, as fear, hunger,
and need have filled the lives of many;
people are being moved to action.
I’ve now eagerly watched for months,
and served as requested, as reports
are shared from national leaders and
missionaries on the ground in different
countries where the organization
I’m affiliated with, the International
Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC),
has been working to meet the needs.
Bryan Nix, director of People to
People, the humanitarian arm of the
IPHC reported that over 60 countries
have received requested aid up to this
point. The need the church is filling,
however, is one beyond that of physical
relief.
“The needs of people haven’t changed,
but the needs have been exacerbated by
20 Prerogative Magazine