When my team and I received the news we were going to be in Lezha, Albania there was an expectation of working with the Mennonite Mission House. I didn’t know what that meant, but I assumed it was working with missionaries. Upon our arrival in Lezha we found ourselves working at an American school. We have been tutoring students and helping in classrooms and have enjoyed getting to know the students and staff here. When we arrived in Lezha, I didn’t plan on having a team member getting their gallbladder removed while in a foreign country, in a city 45 minutes away from where we are living. But that is what my month has looked like so far.
I say all of this not to complain, but rather to show how life never goes the way we thought. There is so much happening in each day and we can’t predict, we can’t control and we can’t anticipate what is going to happen. This month has taught me I don’t need to predict, control or anticipate any of these things, rather what I need to do is find Jesus in each one of these unexpected moments and invite him into each day.
One of my absolute favorite characteristics of God is his sovereignty. Sovereignty is defined as “supreme power or authority.” I think this is my favorite characteristic of His because when things go unplanned or unexpected I can rest on the fact that God is still sovereign through it all. He is still sitting at the right-hand of the Father and he is still supreme even when it seems like everything’s falling apart. This is what I clung to during the unexpected adventures this month had for me.
In each moment I have a choice. I can be upset about how this situation does not fit into my plan, or I can accept the fact that God knew this moment was coming and I can choose to look for the blessing and the joy that comes from that interruption. What does God want me to learn in this?
Like I said, I had not planned on being at the hospital this month as often as I had. But, the best part of it was watching God come in each one of those visits and orchestrate things. Some of my fondest memories from this month happened during those unexpected trips. I got to have breakfast with one of my dear friends from another team and we got to pour into each other and have life-giving conversations. It came at just the right time for both of us. I got to have a random dance party (albeit a subdued dance party, but dance party nonetheless) as I sat in the waiting room of the hospital. I got to see God bring his provision and peace to my teammate as she went through this entire process. I got to see several people on my own team rise up in their leadership skills as I was away helping with other things.
I have seen numerous blessings from the Lord through this month. Not because they were not there the other months, but rather I have changed my perspective on things this month. I have been intentionally seeking out the things God is revealing to me and showing me in the present moment. As my perspective has changed and my focus has been on the now, rather than the past or future, I have found more joy. More peace. More wisdom. More strength. More guidance. More opportunities. I have found that my heart is lighter and I end each day knowing that I gave all that I could.
Today is a gift. Right now is a gift. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So instead of worrying about things that happened yesterday or being anxious about things that haven’t happened yet, let’s pause and thank the Lord for the moment that we have before us. Let’s learn all that we can from the now.
“Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
? Ralph Waldo Emerson, Collected Poems and Translations
