Fierce Beauty Read online

  Suddenly the blackness shudders, then explodes like a mirror. In a brilliant display of pure annihilation, the fragments appear as sizzling missiles that burn up as they fly. Behind the warrior, a roaring wave of evil rolls away like a vicious tsunami. The hordes of the enemy scatter before a righteous flood. Burning like wicked meteors, they leave behind a million black, crisscrossing vapor trails as they incinerate into nothingness.

  In an instant all darkness is completely consumed.

  But this is not the great end. It is the Great Beginning.

  The mighty One is approaching.

  He is clothed in glorious light. His brilliance becomes the very air surrounding the warrior. No longer struggling to stand, she now collapses, kneeling low before her King. He has come—the King of kings—to ransom the redeemed.

  His presence completely surrounds her and fills her. At last the warrior silently lays down her sword. Fearing even to look upon His great majesty, she keeps her head down. She knows she is battered and bleeding, still smeared with the filth she’s fought against. She is not worthy to be in the presence of pure holiness.

  In a voice more beautiful than any sound she’s ever encountered, she hears her King say, “Arise, My love. It is time.”

  Still hesitant to look upon His glory, she keeps her chin tucked into her grimy chest. Slowly staggering to her feet, she feels a gentle breeze moving about her. She recognizes its presence—it is the breath of God. With her head still down, she watches in utter amazement as her wounds spontaneously heal. The bloody filth that once covered her transforms into a gown of pure light.

  Still staring straight down, she senses it before she actually sees it. There, before her downcast eyes, emerges His outstretched hand.

  The King of kings is reaching … for her.

  In complete awe she gradually places her hand in His. Though she has never seen it with her eyes, His hand feels remarkably familiar. It is the identical grip of … her sword. In wondrous recognition she slowly looks up into His face.

  He smiles.

  The pure brilliance radiating from His countenance moves over her like a living flame of radiant love. Every moment of her mortal sorrow, suffering, and pain instantly catches fire and burns away in the presence of His all-consuming peace.

  “I have always been with you, My love,” He says. “And you have always been with Me.”

  Suddenly she understands. She had to choose to become a warrior because her King is a warrior. He too walked through fires—the inferno of hell itself—for all … for her. He also fought the greatest war … and won. He defeated the enemy and death itself so she could now live—forever—with Him.

  If she is ever to become His perfect bride, she needs first to become His perfect reflection. This means following Him in all that He does, reflecting to the world everything that He was—and is. She needs to choose to love Him and then allow her love for her God to be revealed through her every thought and deed.

  “Come, My bride,” He says while gently turning her around. Appearing in His hand is a simple gold ring. “Receive this,” He says, “as an eternal symbol of My love.” Instead of placing the band on her finger, He breathes on it. Slowly the ring expands until it becomes the perfect size to fit her head. He carefully places the unadorned crown upon her brow. Smiling, He softly says, “Real beauty needs no adornments. It is your genuine love for Me that makes you radiant.”

  Still holding the crown on each side of her head and looking deeply into her eyes, the King speaks:

  “My bride, you have fought a good fight. You have finished the race, and you have remained faithful. And now this prize awaits you—the crown of righteousness that I, the King of kings, the righteous Judge, give you on this great day. And this prize is not just for you but for all who eagerly look forward to My glorious return.”

  Once a princess, the woman has chosen to transform into a warrior so she can become the everlasting bride of Christ. Now she kneels in adoration—no longer praising her own likeness but in pure worship before the One who saved her.

  Bowing low, she whispers, “For the King alone.”

  THE CALL

  Your Turn

  Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe.

  Be courageous. Be strong. And everything

  you do must be done with love.

  —1 CORINTHIANS 16:13–14

  Dear one, it’s time to rise to your feet. It’s time to do your part, to carry the flame of hope, to run your race. The great calling of your God is beckoning. The vast assembly of witnesses are cheering, and the enemy will soon be attacking. But no matter what blows he might deal, and though you are wounded and worn, stand and fight in the truth that you’re invincible … until the day your mighty King calls you home.

  So, my friend, run hard—until you run into His arms.

  STILL STANDING …

  Recently I saw a heartwarming movie based on a true story. During the credits at the end, photographs of the actual people were streamed across the screen. After falling in love with the characters, I was deeply moved to see their real faces and read a small update about where they are now.

  I thought you might appreciate the same.

  “Dedication to Jenni Reiling”—True to her indomitable joy, in the last moments of her life, Jenni still chose to encourage those around her. Gripped within the final throes of cancer, she hadn’t spoken, opened her eyes, or responded to anyone in days. When I walked into her room, she lay curled on her side with her right hand softly bent under her chin. I had the privilege of holding her left hand to my cheek one last time.

  I leaned in close, only inches from her beautiful face, and whispered a private conversation I’d just had with her oldest son—a message of love and hope that Jenni had wished me to share with him in her stead. Through tears, I told my dying friend that her son had received her message well and would be blessed for a lifetime by this precious gift.

  Her eyes remained shut as the fingers nestled below her chin began to move. The tip of her index finger gently touched the tip of her thumb. Her remaining three fingers slowly rose, and the corners of her mouth twitched upward.

  The universal gesture that everything is all right—even in death—became her final gift to me. Jenni was correct; because of Jesus … everything will be all right.

  “The Fracture”—Since my near-fatal day on Mount Shasta, I’ve chosen to allow the lessons I learned to take root in my life. Because of this desire, I’ve gone on to climb and summit Mount Rainier and returned to summit my beloved friend six more times … the right way.

  “The Wound”—Dakota continues to live the life of a much-loved and very active dog. During the writing of this book, she was frightened by a stranger, ran in front of a car traveling at highway speed, and was hit. Again her life has become the means for a miracle. Although badly wounded, she is making a slow and steady recovery. In the midst of her healing process, she remains a sweet and bright spirit for those around her and all who visit the ranch.

  Kelsie and Laurie still work with me at Crystal Peaks, and both now serve as directors at the ranch. Each is a beloved friend.

  “The Attack”—Since our incredible, horrifying, and hilarious encounter with the charging mother grizzly bear, I’ve encountered several other grizzlies without incident. As much as their power and grace intrigue me, it remains their terrifying ferocity that drives me to guard against sin in my life with the same tenacity.

  By the way, the following day as we were headed home, we did see a moose.

  “The Boulder”—Though the boulder that I regarded with such fondness is no longer on the summit of South Sister, I’m grateful to have discovered another place to sit. Not only is my new friend located in a perfect place to launch cherry pits, but it is also much farther from the edge.

  “The Wilderness”—Hero lives at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch to this day and continues to be an amazing ambassador of hope. By consistently putting one foot in front of the other, he encourages othe
rs to do the same. One twelve-year-old friend of Hero’s recently shared, “Hero will always be my favorite horse because he proves that what seems impossible isn’t. And he helps me when I miss my brother who’s in the National Guard. When I sit on Hero’s back and know that he made it through his wilderness, I feel close to my brother and know he’ll make it through his wilderness in Afghanistan too.” Meanwhile, a farrier recognized Hero from a media report and identified the owner. The man who shot Hero twice in the head was located, arrested, tried, and convicted.

  “The Smile”—My friend Misheal continues to beam the light and hope of Jesus. Miraculously, now forty years later, the blond girl who saved her life with just one smile a day has been located. After the release of this book, a copy will be anonymously sent to her with a card tucked into the chapter of “The Smile,” informing her that she is the blue-eyed girl. A surprise reunion is currently being planned. I hope this makes readers ponder if it might be them! If not, it’s never too late to begin smiling. Maybe someday someone will contact you to share the wonder of how your gift provided unexpected hope.

  “The Fall”—By our God’s great mercy, Joan and I continue to be very dear friends. Although she has moved from Alaska to Vermont, and I live in Oregon, we spend as much time together as we can. We have many years of friendship and adventuring to make up for … and neither of us intends to miss a single one.

  “The Scar”—Sweet little Angela came and visited the ranch one more time after our initial visit when she shared about her tremendous loss. She stayed long enough to let me know that I was right; she was making it through her grief, and she’d found a wonderful place to live. She also wanted to thank me for sharing with her the hope of Jesus. She now understands that because of Him, there will come a day when she too will see her scars as beauty marks.

  “The Race”—After completing the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team Trials, I never raced again. Although skating is still a big part of my life, and I ski every chance I get, this has now transformed into a time of exercise, reflection, and prayer. It seems that the voice I once heard echoing from an intrepid woman race official, I now hear ringing through the years as the voice of my beloved King:

  Go, girl! Go! Don’t you ever quit!

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  PART 1: THE PROBLEM

  1. What matters most to you? What things tend to sidetrack you from becoming all that God is calling you to be?

  2. You may never have found yourself clinging precariously to the side of a mountain, but perhaps you’ve encountered circumstances just as intense. What were the choices that led you there? How did God meet you in those situations?

  3. In chapter 3, Kim wrote, “Authentic beauty is revealed in what we do for those in need around us. On that day I wanted to be beautiful like Amelia … because she was beautiful like Jesus.” When was the last time you did something strictly for the benefit of someone else—knowing the person could not pay you back? Describe how you felt afterward.

  4. What have you found to be the most effective ways of defending your heart against sin? What are some “arrows” you’ve encountered when you’ve let your guard down? As Kim pointed out, there is no arrow that the unfailing love of Jesus cannot remove. In a few words how would you describe His arrow-removing process in your life?

  PART 2: THE KING

  1. Kim says, “At some point we will all experience our best-laid plans being obliterated in a single moment. An accident, a disease, an addiction, an infidelity, a discovery, a choice—each can exact life-changing consequences.” How has God shown His faithfulness to you in times like these?

  2. Have you ever experienced total peace despite tumultuous or scary circumstances? If so, how would you advise a friend to find peace in the midst of troubled circumstances?

  3. In chapter 11, Kim recalled God speaking to her: “The things you choose to entrust to Me, you will have forever. But the things that you choose to hold on to will all perish.” What have you entrusted to God? What are you holding on to? Why? How are you protecting those things better than God could? When might you be willing to give those things to God as well?

  4. Have you ever had a “wilderness” experience in which you didn’t know how or when you’d make it through? What are your thoughts about where God is during those times? What was most effective in helping you put one foot in front of the other and not give up?

  PART 3: THE WARRIOR

  1. Have you ever asked, “Who am I, and what do I really have to give?” Describe some things you’ve already given, such as a smile, a prayer, a word of encouragement, a small gift. Since you are unique and strategically placed in this world—no one else can be you—what are the gifts you have that can make a difference for those in your life who might be struggling?

  2. In chapter 15, Kim compared unforgiveness to a prison. She also stated, “Forgiveness is a purposeful decision to let go of our years of rubble.” Is there someone in your life you haven’t fully forgiven? If you are holding on to years of rubble, what is it costing you? Are you willing to take action to be completely free?

  3. In your own race through life, what weights slow you down? Who is cheering you on? Whom are you cheering for? What is your greatest motivation to do your best?

  4. Kim wrote that a warrior is one who casts down her “princess crown” of entitlement and picks up her King’s sword of encouragement to fiercely defend those who are losing their battle for hope. Consider your world, your community, your friends, your family. Of those near you, who is losing the battle for hope? If you were to pick up your sword of encouragement, what would that look like for the people around you?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  KIM MEEDER is the cofounder and director of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch (crystalpeaksyouthranch.org), an organization that rescues abused and dying horses and pairs them with children in need. Kim’s first book, Hope Rising, propelled the ranch to win the national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award and launched her extensive inspirational-speaking schedule at schools, churches, and governmental conferences across the United States. Together, Kim and her husband, Troy, have helped to establish nearly two hundred similar ranch ministries that serve children through horses. She and her husband have been married for thirty years and live in Central Oregon. The size of their family fluctuates each year with the number of horses and children they rescue.

  HOPE IS FOR EVERYONE

  Hope is like the stars—always there, yet shining brightest in the blackest nights.

  Experience more of Kim Meeder in these engaging true-life stories of hope and selfless love.

  To read a sample chapter or for more information

  on these books and others visit

  www.WaterBrookMultnomah.com