In July, our dear friend and sister Rachel (middle, smiley) from Soma Tacoma came to visit us. We were so thankful for those days with aunt Wachel. We sent her back with a letter to Soma Tacoma.

I decided to post this letter here (below), because in many ways, this letter is also to many of you who are not a part of Soma Tacoma, but who have been walking with us like family for years now.

We are thankful for you.

It feels right to send a physical letter with our sister Rachel to be read aloud to our church family that sent us to Slovakia almost a year and a half ago.

I’ve officially been in the role of what our church would call “pastor” for two months now.
It’s been a weighty joy. It’s also been a blur.

I’m realizing how idealistic I can be about church-everything; dreaming about building an all star leadership team, empowering women who’ve been on the sidelines, championing a vision for bettering our city, helping our people grow in dependence on the Spirit, for churches planting churches planting churches…the list is long…and it’s a long list of good things, that we should continue to pursue, for sure…

But honestly…

most days I’m just sitting in front of somebody and I’m simply pleading,
“Jesus, please help me not screw up this person’s perception of you.”

I’m realizing that most of my job description is simply that – helping people understand – and not misunderstand – the character of God.

If we trully did understand Him, all would be right.

We spent this summer in Revelation 1-3, walking our church through the seven letters to seven churches. These are letters written directly from Jesus. And every letter contains a self description of the author – a self-portrait of Jesus.

In these descriptions I’ve been continually brought back to Jesus’ eyes – and two things
about them:

First – these are not the gushy soft blue eyes of the Jesuses in Sunday school
storybooks – they’re described as eyes “like flames of fire.” Blazing, piercing, eyes. Eyes
seeing all…judging all. This might not be how we would like to start our description of
Jesus, but that’s how Jesus starts his description of Jesus. He deeply cares about our
holiness. His eyes see all. And nothing will go unjudged.

But secondly – Jesus’ opens every letter by simply saying… “I see you, church.”
“I know you. I know what you’re going through.”
“I know your works, I know your love. I know your neighborhood, your broken city I put
you in. I know your pain, I know your sacrifice, your effort, your loss. I know you. I see
you there.”

And his judging eyes and his caring eyes are the same eyes. They are burning with
rightousness and love – and he sees us with them – and it’s what he saw that sent him to
the cross, where his wrath was satisfied and his love displayed.

Why am I writing this to you?
I’m realizing how much you have been the eyes of Jesus to us – to me, to Laurel, to the
Jones family.

You have pursued our holiness for the last few years, and walked alongside us as God
changed our hearts and corrected our motivations and desires. 

But you’ve also been the eyes of Jesus that see us. The comments on Facebook, the
texts, the Skype calls – visits from Dakota, Rachel – and soon the Sheets – many of these
have been moments of Jesus saying “I see you.”

Jesus knew that we would need a church that could and would do this for us.
You have been his eyes. And we’ve needed to know that we’re seen these last months.
We still need it. This need of His assurance will not go away, until we see him clearly
one day.

But lastly, I’m writing this – because I sense it could be a word for you too, church family
– for you individually, but also for Soma Tacoma as a whole.

Jesus’ blazing eyes are looking at you… and he sees all. And any area where his eyes
of fire can purify you is the. best. thing. that can happen to you. So continue to pursue
holiness, brother, sister, elders, church family. Look into his blazing eyes.

But also know, as you look, that Jesus sees. you. He knows your works, your love, your
faith, and service, and patient endurance. He is proud of your work, tired leader, he
sees your heart, unnoticed servant, he knows you – brother, sister.

I’m crying as a write this and know that Rachel did at some point too while she read it.
Looking into Jesus’ eyes tends to do this to ours. And that’s a good thing.

We love you.
See you soon.

Dawson