Elephants to Ayahuasca: A Journey of Hope
1. The Jarring Transition
Yesterday, I stood ankle-deep in the cacophony of the Fort Worth Zoo: children feeding lettuce to the giraffes, parents corralling toddlers past the slimy snakes, my son JJ tugging on my hand to see the elephants lumber by. Today, I’m submerged in a different symphony—the chorus of cicadas and macaws in the Tarapoto jungle of Peru. I am preparing for my first ayahuasca ceremony with Heroic Hearts Project.
My flight from DFW to Miami was delayed (a familiar refrain these days). Oh but for the grace of God I go! And go I did, from standby to a seat from Lima to Tarapoto. As our small plane descended at dawn, mist curled through the canopy like answered prayer. Jorge, our warm-smiling guide, whisked us to The Green House—a name as verdant as the oasis it proved to be.
Here, wealth isn’t measured by bank accounts but by barefoot children playing soccer in dusty streets, by families sharing food beneath mango trees, by the healing power of community and creation stirring hope into hardened soil. Children are not lured by devices but engaged in social pond of purpose, connection, and relationships.
2. Diving into the Depths: Psalm 130
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!”
—Psalm 130:1
Psalm 130 presents raw, urgent emotions. It speaks from the valleys of the soul rather than mountaintop speeches. It’s a pilgrim’s song, once sung by those journeying to Jerusalem, now echoing in these Peruvian hills.
2.1 Verses 1–2: The Prayer of the Valley
True prayer doesn’t sparkle; it quivers. The psalmist pleads, not prescribes. Like John of the Cross’s Dark Night, it’s in sorrow’s crucible (or cubicle) we discover mercy. Theologian Origen reminds us that repentance restores intimacy more than mere remorse.
2.2 Verses 3–4: Grace That Astonishes
“If you kept a record of sins, who could stand?” Yet God’s ledger reads forgiveness, not condemnation. “Fear”—the reverent awe born of grace—blooms here. Gustavo Gutiérrez calls it “grace gratuitous, but not cheap.” Today, in the jungle’s hush, I tasted jungle grace when temptation whispered its old lies. The psalm’s promise held me fast, a small victory wrapped in hope.
2.3 Verses 5–6: Waiting That Strengthens
“I wait for the LORD…in his word is my hope.” The Hebrew qavah brims with expectancy—an active, tension-filled waiting. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Hope is hearing the melody of the future; faith is dancing to it today.” Brazilian poet-theologian Rubem Alves captures it well: “To wait is strength—if we wait on the Lord.” Here in the rainforest, I’m not hunting visions but cultivating worship in my waiting.
2.4 Verses 7–8: A Communal Hope
“O Israel, hope in the LORD!” This isn’t just a motto—it’s ours. It’s yours. Even for the jaded veteran whose cynicism and fatigue edged me yesterday, even for the atheist, the Buddhist, the agnostic. God’s grace and mercy is available. These verses fling open the door to abundant redemption.
3. Preparing the Heart: Prayers for the Journey
3.1 Prayer of Confession and Renewal
(Ephesians 5:3 + Psalm 130)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Cleanse my mind from impurity; wash my heart from fear and shame.
Set my eyes on You, O Lord, deliver me from secret sin.
May my waiting be worship; my silence, strength.
Fill this jungle space with Your light. Amen.
3.2 Ceremonial Prayer of Protection
(For Ayahuasca Sessions)
Heavenly Father, my refuge—cover me with Your wings.
Surround this circle with Your angels; let no spirit enter but one that bows to Jesus’ name.
Lord of my body, mind, and soul—cleanse, quiet, anoint me.
Holy Spirit, lead me into all truth, even within shadows. Amen.
4. Leading in Wilderness
Here among towering ceibo trees, I’m not a salesman but a priest—calling souls out of the wilds into the rest of Christ. My role is reflection, not conversion; presence, not persuasion. To brothers and sisters back home—my chaplains and soldiers—know that your chaplain still waits on the Lord, and in this waiting there is grace, cleansing, strength. Even here. Even now.
Final Reflections
From Chaos to Communion: Transitioning from zoo to jungle mirrors our spiritual journey—leaving familiar clamor for the sacred unknown.
Depth Before Display: True transformation comes not from surface spectacle but from the soul’s depths—where God meets us in longing.
Communal Calling: Psalm 130’s refrain invites us beyond self—into a shared hope that refuses to leave anyone behind.
May your own pilgrimage—whether to Peru’s green wilds or the wilderness of your heart—be marked by prayer that trembles, waiting that strengthens, and a hope that binds us together in God’s abundant mercy.
Listen Reader, Veteran, Mommy, and Businessman, I pray for God to fill your heart with the hope of glory. May you experience the goodness and mercy of God, the healing power and presence of Jesus Christ, and the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit!