Before Christmas I was at the mall with my Mommom picking out a few practical things she could wrap for me to open on Christmas morning. I knew that I needed flip flops to bring on the race, so we wandered into Journeys. I have friends that swear by Rainbows….one of my best friends lives in them and has had the same pair since like, middle school. I’ve always been more of a Reefs girl though. They’re squishy, comfy and usually pretty cute.
I suppose the cashier could see me contemplating my options and came over and affirmed what I already knew, “Reefs are comfortable right away, but don’t last as long – Rainbows last forever but it takes a little bit to break them in.” I really didn’t want to betray my usual brand and just couldn’t justify the idea of breaking in a pair of flip flops…so I went with the Reefs.
Fast forward to week one of Puerto Rico…I had obviously made the wrong decision. Reefs were just not cut out for the world race. I had gotten them wet and worn them too much already – they had flattened out, gotten slippery and stretched out…the original appeal of ease had completely gone away. So, the next time we got to a mall I found a pair of Rainbows.
You guys. They were BRUTAL. The last time my feet had hurt that bad was after walking down Las Vegas Boulevard in a pair of heels. But, as I wore the Rainbows more and more, day by day, they kept getting a little bit more comfortable, my feet started to mold to them, the straps started to stretch out and now I can finally put my feet in them and feel like they kind of, sort of fit. (I hear it gets even better though!)
As I was scraping paint off a ceiling for hours yesterday morning, I was thinking about how happy I was that they had finally quit hurting so bad (and dare I say it, maybe a little comfy), I realized that maybe this is what God was calling me to this year. Maybe a little bit of discomfort was what was needed for a little long term benefit.
I looked back on this month of Puerto Rico and saw how God had made me uncomfortable serving physically. We were able to serve a sweet widow, whose husband died just 5 months ago, by working both outside her home – cutting grass by machete, cutting down trees and limbs and moving them, sweeping and scrubbing and also working inside by DEEP cleaning her house that had obviously not been cleaned in years….when we went to visit her next she was outside sweeping and doing a load of laundry! Our physical discomfort led to her being encouraged to get out of bed, put on clothes and do a little cleaning herself. She even told us how us serving her allowed her to feel loved and cared for.
I saw how He forced me to be a little uncomfortable in a social and spiritual setting as well. We were asked to serve a single mother by completely gutting her yard of years of trash, cutting down forest like trees, removing them from the grounds, cleaning the house and painting it also – it literally looks like a different house. However, while doing this and praying in my head for the woman as I was working – the Lord had laid it on my heart to pray for her individually and encourage her but the opportunity never seemed to present itself. I prayed that I would recognize the time I was supposed to, secretly hoping it wouldn’t happen. The next Friday night service the pastor asked us to break up in groups. After we had, he asked us to share requests and pray for the person on the left… and there she was. Because I had been burdened for days I knew exactly how I was to pray for this woman and it was evident that the Lord had prepared me to encourage her. I was nervous and uncomfortable that I would sound awkward or that I would accidentally offend her in this process – but, I put myself out there, embraced the awkward and did it. This was almost just as painful for me as the shoes – I was scared. But, as I opened my eyes and tears were in both of our eyes and she hugged me and thanked me – I knew that feeling uncomfortable was worth it in the long run.
So, Mom (or anyone else who miraculously read all of my ramble), just like reefs are not cut out for the world race…immediate comfortability is not cut out for the Christian life. He calls us to be uncomfortable, to not conform, to put ourselves out there and listen to what He asks of us, regardless of how much it hurts, how awkward it makes us feel or how much it scares us. And you know…after doing it enough times, it’s got to get a little easier and a little more comfortable feeling, right?
So, as I go into the Dominican next month, sleep in a tent on a field and work with children who live in the dump, I am excited to be uncomfortable. I’m excited to see what He calls me into…because breaking in these Rainbows really hurt, but it was worth it.
