Two Ways to Look at a Thunderstorm
The other night was a really good example of something I have had to practice a lot on the race. Something that I should have been practicing long before now. But, as they say, better late than never. I am going to tell two different versions of last night; Two perspectives that I have to choose from: Negative or positive?
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Last night I was in the middle of watching Harry Potter 7.1 on the dirty floor of one of the rooms in the team house when the power went out. Another team was also watching movie in our room and I could hear it over my headphones. So, I got up and went outside…also because I just read all the books so I was a little bored. As I stepped outside, I realized that a thunderstorm had rolled in and it was pouring rain. I stood against the wall to enjoy the storm when several other team mates ran out to dance in the rain, followed by a few others telling them how creepy they look dancing around in the rain in the dark. Well, there goes any peace that momentarily existed. So, I walked around to another side of our covered tenting area, stood under the end of the tin roof to enjoy the lightning in peace. As the water dripped of the roof it splashed on my filthy feet. Since the water was also out in our establishment I thought, “Yes! I can at least wash my legs from the knees down!” But I held my hand under the drips and noticed, with the help of my headlamp, that the water was actually brown from carrying all the dirt from the roof. Cool, well I will just use another four baby wipes since the water is out and I can’t even take a bucket shower. Then, I went back into the room to watch more Harry Potter, now covered in dirt and wet. I decided that since the movie was no longer interesting, and I still wanted to enjoy the storm, that I would just go to bed. As I crawled into my tent I noticed that my feet were completely muddy which would require another four baby wipes. After getting myself as clean as possible with no water, I listened to the rain fall on the tin roof, frequently interrupted by the pool-floaty-esque squeaking of my tent-neighbors’ sleeping pads.
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Last night my team finally got to continue the tradition we had started back in Zimbabwe of educating one of my team mates, who hadn’t seen any of the Harry Potter movies. Since I had just finished the book series I was happy to recap what had happened in the last movie, and fill in any missing details that my teammates needed. About half way through the movie I heard a roll of thunder and jumped up to see if it was actually thunder or if it was just the kids throwing their water bottles on our roof again. Pleasantly surprised, I stood against the wall enjoying the cooler air and the frequent lightning. Even better, a few minutes later, the power went out so that any ambient lights from our establishment or the surrounding structures were now out, creating a perfect setting to admire the storm. Watching lightning is something my family really enjoys doing at home, so getting to do it in the pitch dark in Africa was really cool. There were no lights to distract or detract from the blinding flashes. The storm was an answer to prayer. Africa gets very little rain, so the fact that it has rained numerous times since our teams have been in Nsoko is a huge blessing. I thought about the rest of my team watching the movie inside and was thankful for my computer’s battery life, and that they wouldn’t have to worry about it dying while they finished the movie. I wanted to stay outside while the storm rolled through, so I snuggled into my tent and enjoyed the pattering of rain drops on the tin roof and peels of thunder as I drifted to sleep. It was a night full of blessings. I was surrounded by people I love. I was able to use a gift given to me, and bless others with it as well. Even better, the Lord sent rain to Swaziland, so I was able to fall asleep to a thunderstorm and rain on a tin roof.
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So here’s the deal. I have found that all joy comes from the Lord. Novel concept…I know. But I have also learned that joy is a combination of things. 1: communing with the Lord and allowing him to fill your thoughts and heart. 2: Asking for the Lord to give you more joy, because like any other gift, it can be given and received. 3: You have to choose it. This third one is the one I have been learning to practice the past week out in Nsoko. I have to choose the Joy I am given. I have the option of taking it for granted, or I can recognize it for what it is…a gift. I can opt to enjoy it, and to share it. Some of you might’ve seen some shirts that say simply “choose Joy.” While they are an excellent reminder of the point I’m making in this blog, they are make it seem horribly simple. Choosing joy is often not easy. In fact choosing joy might be one of the hardest things Jesus asks us to do. Choosing joy when you have a loved one who is terminally ill…that’s a big ask. Choosing joy when you can’t pay any of your bills, your rent is due and you have 3 test this week…that’s freaking hard. Choosing joy when you stubbed your toe or stepped on a lego…a challenge that should not be underestimated! The point is, we have hundreds of opportunities daily to see and choose joy. Especially with all the things that have been going on in our country (of which I only know a fraction) we have to depend on the Lord to be our joy, to give us hearts that choose joy and ultimately give him the credit as the source of every joyful thing we have and experience. What are the common things in your daily life where you can choose joy?
