It’s b
een almost two months living in Gainesville, Georgia, and working alongside Adventures in Missions. Had you asked two months ago what I’d be doing today, I would have answered with, “I’m not sure overall, but I will be doing (fill in blank with any hopeful lofty goal).” Today, I’d have to answer that question with, “I seem to be taking a ride in God’s coat pocket.”*
I’m not really doing much in the way of “shock and awe” though each day is exhausting. I’ve met neighbors and ventured into the North Georgia wilds and even wrote my support letter which will be popped into the mail on Tuesday.
Eyes wide and along for the ride, I’m hanging on and trying to rest as the Almighty does his thing.
A few observations from this pocket-ride:
- People matter more to God than stuff and shock & awe
- Busy people can be some of the loneliest people on the planet
- Often the most jaw-dropping “stuff” God does is quiet and intimate-unshackling, healing broken hearts, being patient (very sorry about dropping that f-bomb when fixing the effing clothes dryer today…), breathing truth & life into dark dingy places
- It’s easy to be squeaky clean alone, it’s tough to live well & sparkly in community, but community is SO MUCH BETTER
- God hears our hearts and cares about the little things (there are THREE kayaks available to us and they’re right on the lake!)
- There is a fine line between faith and foolishness and it usually is determined by perspective
- Sometimes God says “PLAY” and it is just as important as when he says, “PRAY”
- Most good things were meant to be shared: encouragement, hope, legos, chocolate, coffee, time, gigglefits, lunch, and joy
- Many tough things are meant to be shared, too, so that folks can help carry the load (They usually don’t mind -especially if you are covered in the sweat of the effort and your limbs are shaking from the trying.)
- God often helps those who CANNOT help themselves and it seems he’d prefer it if some of us would get out of his way so he can do the things we’ve longed for
- Age and wisdom are not guaranteed companions
- Wanting to be the “best ( fill in the blank ) for God smacks more of ego than love & really love-is the point
- “I got nothin'” and really need this God who will stuff me in his coat pocket to keep me close, fed, safe, learning, and out-of-trouble (mostly)
* The picture of the squirrel in my friend Lisa’s (& Sunset Zoo colleague) pocket seems to sum up what God is doing and what I’m doing. He‘s doing a lot-slicing through the old scaly ways of doing life and relationships (like Aslan and Eustis in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader).
I am trying to be still and productive and pay my bills and feed the cat and cultivate friendships both old and new and draw closer to him as we bump along the day.
Join me. The view is extraordinary.
