A girl changed the world.


A girl like us changed the world, by


going.

I heard a story today that shook me to the core, and I have to write it here or it will explode out of my fingers and lungs and hair in all directions and on all people (even though secretly it still might).

Once upon a time, shortly before the War, a girl very much like you and me, 18 years old and fresh out of YWAM, heard Afghanistan, go go go. So she went to Afghanistan, by herself and all her 18 years of experience.

She didn't wear the burkha, she wondered what to do in this city she was in, what's on your mind, God? What's in your head?

and in a very characteristic manner, God smiled and told her, hey, get yourself a bicycle and ride it. Just anywhere, around. Just

do

it.

So she thought, yeah, weird, but not so bad! And bought a bike, and rode it around anywhere she went and loved the wind in her uncovered hair and the way the breeze moving the little hairs on her arms, the refuge from the heat.


And she asked God the next day, what next? What now?? How do you want this to go?

And God smiled and said, how about you go ride that bike of yours again?

So off she went...for weeks. Just riding around, not sure of anything but the wind and the definite joy and voice telling her to ride and fly fly fly.

But the men were getting a little restless with the whole deal...who did that white girl think she was, riding on a bicycle in the middle of broad daylight in front of Allah and everyone, letting her hair fly back?!? I mean, really. She should have some sense.

So it started with mutters,

then jeers

then shouts and fists in the air,

then

when she refused to stop...

the rocks

.


At least 5 came pelting at her head as she flew through the street, all hitting the intended mark, and she flew in a very different way off the bike, in the air, fluttered to the ground

bloody and bruised.
Confused.

When out of nowhere, like a flock of birds appeared the women

coming out of the spaces in between

and carried her in their arms to safty.

When they set her down, they removed their burkhas, weeping...

WEEPING.

She didn't really understand, and asked them why they wept.

"We didn't know what real freedom truly looked like until, one day we saw you

flying through the streets

on a bicycle, with

the wind blowing through your hair.

You've brought new life, and new hope. Thank you."

A girl who went

on a bicycle...

It's that simple.