It’s funny how even in the midst of natural disasters we can push through and demand that our way of life not change. When I got back from Training Camp, where the Lord did some pretty intense work in me, I was concerned about how I would return to my way of life at home, all the while trying to walk out the new feelings and senses I had discovered inside of myself. This week was hectic. This week Domino’s rolled out new hot oven-baked sandwiches (in four varieties – Chicken Parm, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Philly Cheese Steak, and Italian) and my boss loaded up on employees, giving me a full 39 hours, careful not to pay me overtime. On top of that I had coordinated with a woman from our church to paint her son’s room, and with another man to paint his chimney, trying to raise some extra money as I prepare for the Race. On Wednesday I had my regular meeting with my pastor, and Friday I was planning on volunteering at the Sharing Center. By Tuesday afternoon I was staring this gauntlet of a schedule in the face dreading closing every night at the D and waking up to full days of activity. I started to wonder where my time would be. But I had commitments, I had obligations, no time to pause and consider myself like God was nudging me to do from the inside.
I finished painting the child’s room Wednesday morning and got to have a good hour with my pastor Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday I woke up to the beginning of torrential rains and high winds, thankful I could temporarily back out of my commitment to paint a chimney. I spent the rest of the day taking two or three naps and catching up on my Dostoevsky, before going in to work. Friday I woke up to more Tropical Storm rain. I still felt like I needed some more down time, but felt my obligation at the Sharing Center tugging on me and pushed out the impulse to rest. I drove out to the Sharing Center, only to find they were closed due to the weather. I got to spend the morning in the church office (one of my favorite hangouts) and the afternoon with my friend Katrina shopping for craft supplies and watching one of our favorite TV shows on her computer…before going to work.
The thought crossed my mind that God used a mild hurricane to force me to slow down and take some time for myself and to further contemplate what He’s doing in my life. Then I thought that was a little self-centered. How could a huge storm affecting a large part of the fourth most populous state in the union be all about me and my God? But maybe it’s not about me; maybe it’s about Him. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person in Florida who needed to pause; maybe some other people got to stop when the storm came and think about God in their lives. Then I thought, how great is our God that he can use a storm – that made some crazy turns to ensure I had more than just one day to rest – just to force a missionary-in-preparation to take some time off. That’s some serious Creator-of-the-Universe power right there.
Yesterday I told my boss that next week would be my last at Domino’s, two weeks earlier than I had planned. In the last couple days I realized how busy I was making myself and I decided rest is more important than the extra $400 I would make in two more weeks of slapping pies. I love that I serve a God who, when I ignore the impulses He puts inside of me, will put a Hurricane firmly in front of me.
