Spring break came as a much needed intermission, and a chance to try out some of my gear and packing strategies.
I challenged myself to pack for our week-long conference in under an hour and fit everything in my school bag and a cross-body purse. I managed to do it, but I forgot many of the things I intended to bring.
For example, I meant to bring my route flags to experiment with photos in the warmth instead of subzero temperatures. I also neglected to pack towels, even though I am now in possession of a few travel-friendly varieties.
I responded to these relatively insignificant inconveniences in two ways.
I tried to convince myself that I didn’t really need the things I left behind. Sunshine will eventually, Lord willing, make its way to Evanston. And besides, my paper creations most likely would not have survived the road trip. It reminded me of Aesop’s fable about the fox and the grapes just out of reach. They were probably sour anyway.
I also tried to compromise. One of my tops became a makeshift towel for the week. I could make it work.
I’m thankful that God gave me perspective about my oversights. Flexibility will be my friend next year.
But I keep coming back to one thought: This is not how I want to approach life on The World Race.
No, I don’t mean that drying off with a T-shirt after showers has been a huge nuisance (but I don’t recommend it as a way to save money and space). I just don’t want to treat every single dilemma, however big or small, as an opportunity to exercise my problem-solving skills.
In a recent study of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, I learned that patience is the ability to suffer or take trouble joyfully. Cynicism, self-righteousness, or the mindset that “this is too small to be bothered about” are merely substitutes for Biblical patience.
Yikes. Counterfeit patience replaces the real thing in my life every day.
I don’t want to make it work.
I don’t want to try to maintain control.
I want to give God the opportunity to flex His muscles.
I want to see Him provide. I have faith that He will.
