We Are The Vigilant
/What is “We are the Vigilant”?
Or, perhaps the more appropriate question is “what does it mean to be Vigilant?”
About a year ago my husband and I sat down to talk about what we wanted. We have these conversations often. But this conversation was different. We were taking a giant step. We were launching a business that would seek to support missionaries through the design and sale of apparel. Those we knew thought it was a great idea. We thought it was a great idea. In fact, we still think it’s a great idea. We know that our mandate as Christians is to “go and make disciples of all nations” according to Matthew 28:19. We believe we will one day go abroad to do some of the work we’re so passionate in supporting. But in the midst of that conversation we had to admit something was missing. We were leaving vocational student ministry to strike out on our own, only our passion for students and reaching younger generations had not changed. Even now, we are still just as zealous to see students serve God with passion and consistency. It was out of this conversation that the idea for We are the Vigilant was born.
“Vigilant” is not one of those words you typically use in normal, everyday speech.
“Well, you sure are looking vigilant, today. Did you do something different with your hair?”
In case you aren’t aware “vigilant” means, keenly watchful to detect danger; wary, ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful. This is an idea that is constantly spoken of in scripture. Isaiah and Ezekiel talk about watchmen who stand guard and warn people of the things to come. They’re awake when others are asleep. The Book of 1st Peter tells us to “be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Yikes.
We believe this is a time when it’s easy to “fall asleep”. It’s a temptation most of us face every day. It’s so easy to coast through life, and even for us, we find there are reasons every day to give up. But that wouldn’t be any fun now, would it? The tougher moments in life tend to elicit two types of responses, pro-action or reaction. One can either act or react, but in the moment you can’t do both.
We decided to pick up a bullhorn – to yell from the rooftops, “Wake up!”
Granted, we’ll probably make ourselves look like fools, but how many people spend their lives fighting for what they truly believe in? And perhaps they‘re willing to fight, but the things that are worth fighting for are not what have their attention i.e. they are asleep. We believe this is something we are called to. Thus, we fight.
This blog and these words are our medium. It is with caffeine-induced diligence that we look forward to sharing things with you…things that will make you laugh, maybe make you cry, make you mad, and definitely make you think. We look forward to sharing our stories. When we talk openly about the things we’ve experienced and struggled with, we believe it encourages others to do the same. In a sense, this wakes us up.
In the upcoming months you will see and hear more from us. If you’re interested in seeing where we go on this journey, we encourage you to “Subscribe” to the blog. We have plans to share a variety of artistic and creative content. It’s just how we roll. We’ll do our best not to take ourselves too serious. After all, who wants to be friends with Debby Downer? Anyone? Yes, we will talk about serious things sometimes. How could we not with a name like We are the Vigilant?
Wahoo! We are excited.
Now, let’s put our big kid pants on and have some fun!
The next time we write, we’ll be sharing a little bit more about ourselves and what happened in 2013, a year we like to call, “How are we still alive?” You don’t want to miss it.
“We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”
