During this past month I relearned a valuable life/spiritual lesson. God used two separate scenarios to teach me this lesson because He knows sometimes I can be hardheaded. One of the ways He chose to teach me was by digging what we were originally told was a trench, but was really a 12x12x10 foot hole for a septic tank. The other was by spending time with the men of X Squad (aka The X Men).
I started digging the “trench” on the first day of the project with a couple of other guys. We realized it wasn’t just a trench when we saw the measurements and then were told that we’d really be digging a huge hole. The next couple of days I was digging by myself or with one other guy as the other guys worked on other projects. We made progress, but it was slow moving and hard work, especially with the tiny shovels we had. Eventually a couple of other guys and girls joined us for a couple of days. Then we got all eight of the X Men down in the hole to pick and dig and we really started doing work and making progress. We took shifts and had a couple of guys working and other guys encouraging them and resting. On the last day we had to set up an assembly line because we had dug so deep. We had a couple of guys digging and putting dirt into buckets, a guy moving the buckets up to the guy on the ladder, and the guy on the ladder handing the buckets to a guy on ground level who would then pour out the dirt and hand back the empty bucket. On our last workday of the month, we finally completed the septic tank hole.
When we first got to El Shaddai, I isolated myself a bit. I was internally processing a question that I felt God had asked me. I was in a strange place mentally and I didn’t really feel like talking to people because I couldn’t express my feelings yet. I spent a lot of time in the Word and in prayer and getting away to be alone with God. I was having great time with the Lord, but I felt numb during our worship times and wasn’t sure why. I didn’t share it with anyone initially though. Eventually I shared with the guys one day when we were having “man time” and they prayed for me. As they laid hands on me and prayed, I started laughing uncontrollably and at the same time I was crying. It didn’t last long. I said “Well I just laughed and cried at the same time, so I guess I just felt something. I thanked the guys for their prayer and I spent some more time in prayer myself just thanking God.
Later that night during worship I was feeling about the same as I had before, numb. The guys came and prayed for me again. Then I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to fill me up and said I’m not leaving until something happens. I put my head down and prayed some more and the Spirit hit me and I started belly laughing. I had no control over it. Eventually that turned into crying. Then it went back to laughter. The kind of laughter that makes your belly and face hurt because you laugh so much. It went on for the rest of the service. Any time I felt like it was going away I would say, “No God, I want more!” and He gave me more. It was exactly what I needed and set the tone for the rest of the month. I got a taste of God’s presence in my life, but I want more!
Both of these scenarios reminded me that my spiritual walk and my life aren’t supposed to be done alone. It’s much better when you share it with others. Satan loves to try to isolate us or try to make us feel like we are alone because that makes us more venerable to his schemes. I’ve always loved team sports because I love being a part of something bigger than myself. I love how the sum of the parts can come together and be better than the whole. I love how the team needs each member and the gifts they bring. I noticed the same thing when I went on my African safari. Most animals were traveling in packs so they can protect each other and because they together they are stronger than they are alone. My time at El Shaddai reminded just how much I need people lifting me up in prayer, helping me carry my burdens, encouraging me, and walking with me. I’m thankful that God reminded me of my need for others.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity a man who falls and has no one to help him up.
