Warning: There is a picture of my infected finger at the end of this blog. It’s kinda gross, so if you don’t want to see it, then don’t scroll below the solid line after the text!
Ministry in London has come to an end. Month number 6 has come to an end. All of the squad, minus myself and three others are in Mozambique. But I’m in South Africa. Here’s why…
We’ve seen a lot on this trip. Seems like a whole heap more when you sit back and reflect than it actually seems at the time. I made it through all of the dirty, disease-ridden third world countries unscathed. London gave me a chance to practice what I’ve learned so far; how to live a bit radically for Christ in a first-world country. It seemed like the least likely place to contract some weird, nasty welt/bite, but that is exactly what happened.
I wouldn’t say that I typically avoid conversations, but I definitely don’t rush into them with strangers. Obviously I needed a few days of handing out tracts to on the streets to work on that. After a while I realized that handing ou
t tracts is a bit like life. There are hundreds of people everywhere, leaving you overwhelmed and nervous. You don’t know who to pick, what to say, how to approach them. You wonder if you can answer their questions, if they even speak to you. You fear looking foolish, embarrassing yourself in front of so many people. But then God points someone out and you just do it. It might go great, it might be a trainwreck, but you learn from the situation and apply it to the next.
Handing out tracts was also a microcosmic example of the World Race; seeking God, learning about yourself, trying new things (and failing) but growing through the process. Growing into the man (or woman) that God created you to be. Which brings me to my point – the ability to praise God in any circumstance.
Right before this monstrosity appeared on my finger, I had an accountability conversation with Dan. He and I always seem to move in opposite directions; when he’s up, I’m down, and vice versa. On this particular occasion, he was struggling with some things, while I was doing the best I had on the entire trip. Then came the swelling and infection.
Yes, this finger thing has caused me to hang back in Nelspuit, South Africa with the rest of the sick and injured. In the past I would have probably whined for a bit, then been angry, missing my entire chance to praise God in circumstances that I don’t understand. But not this time…
Growth!
Today I spent most of the day in God’s word and praying for those who are in Mozambique. Just because I’m not there doesn’t mean I can’t participate through prayer. I don’t know why I’m here and not with the rest. It’s not for me to know or to understand. My job is to praise God for each situation he places me in, and to serve Him and those around me however I can.
So don’t let your inexplicable situations ruin your attitude or your day. You’ll be missing the point by trying to find the point!
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