I keep looking for a definition that defines what I saw as I was with this squad. But so far I’ve come up empty handed as I try to find words to explain it. The way that the leaders honored the participants, the way that the participants honored their leaders, the way that everyone honored the ministries they were a part of, the way that I was personally honored…this honor thing was something that I really started to take note of.
These are the things that I lay awake in bed pondering about these days. The other night as I laid there thinking, I had this thought:
How is honor defined?
Could it be that honor is best defined by the reactions it causes?
What if honor is one of those things that you really can’t understand until you’re standing in a place where it’s presence is so thick that you cannot not understand it?
What if it’s only truly defined when one puts breath to it & lives it out?
I know one thing is for sure…I’ve never felt or understood honor more strongly than I did when I was with this squad. Honor is a part of their heartbeat. It’s at the core of who they are. They honor well. They sweat honor out of their pores. It’s a lifestyle they’ve chosen to make theirs and the fruit is incredible.
Where there is honor, people are empowered.
Where there is honor, people are believed in.
Where there is honor, people are called to greatness.
I had the privilege of spending this month with an incredible squad, and specifically two extraordinary people who understand honor. 
Sean Smith and Andi Wendel live out honor every single day, and have led this squad in incredible ways. I could go on for days about how their gifts came alive as they led this squad. They led in a way that an outsider who knows nothing about the individuals on the squad can come into the same place and immediately be overtaken by the thickness of honor in that place. The environment, the literal air of the place, is changed by the honor that is present. Andi & Sean have raised up new leaders, Jory Billiot, Weston Belkot, and Katie Hannon in the same way…where honor is a part of who they are. Not because they work really hard at it, but simply because it’s who they are…they are a group of people that does honor well! They love people with the unrelenting love of the Father, and they recognize the great things God’s doing in them.
So here I am, still trying to find a definition that accurately describes the honor that I felt when I was with this squad. I feel like an extremely valuable treasure was unearthed right before my eyes. This treasure of honor is something that I want to walk out more each day. I desire daily to live my life full of honor. I want to honor those I work with and for. I want to honor those in my community of close friends here. I want to honor well.
You are missed sister. Awesome job putting your internal stirrings into words.
well said kayla! I applaud your pursuit of honor…
Great stuff!
really great stuff…and how much do we not even know what we’re missing when we live lives w/out that thick presence of honor? i’ve been in environments where honor was lacking and (though i know i was a part of that, being there) you can feel the lacking even if you can’t put your finger on it that honor is what’s lacking…if that makes any sense at all 🙂
So great Kayla, just like YOU!!!!!!!
Love you so much!!
Love you Keyla!
This is a righteous pursuit!! With you in it!
I love this sister! It was such an honor and blessing to have you with us those 5 weeks! Wish you were still out here with us! Love you so much!