It was that time of year again. It was time for the annual mission trip. From what I know my parish has been doing inter-state mission trips for the last three years. Two years ago missionaries from my church and throughout our diocese traveled to mississippi to help those who had lost hope due to the flooding in that area. I didn’t go on this trip but I did go the next year (last year). Last year we traveled to St. Augustine, Texas, the second poorest county in the state. There we were able to get to meet the locals, praise and worship together, and find God in the very short time that we spent together.
It was last years trip that God had set a trap for me to fall into. He put the joy that I felt when helping these people into my heart and let it simmer there till I was ready, till I found The World Race. It was also the year that I rediscovered the most fantastic feeling. The feeling of when God is truly present. It’s warm filling and invited you to sing out fantastic praises… so who in their right mind wouldn’t want to go and do it again.
I came into this trip thinking that it would be something of preparation for the ever closer World Race. I won’t lie, I started off thinking this was not going to be a big deal, I had much greater things to come, but this was just going to be a good chance to recenter my life, and get me to thinking more about the what’s to come. As well as a chance to be free of responsibilities, and the ever invasive social media. I just have to say WOW, God had other plans.
From the moment we set foot on the campus of Lafayette University (the place we would be sleeping/eating/worshiping for the week) we were set up for a fantastic week. Our first day there Lifeteen, the organisation running our trip had one of the most intense worship sessions I have ever had. This was the kind of stuff you save for the end of the trip, but they came guns blazing and had us out of our seats dancing and pretending we knew the words to the songs. A big shout out to our musician Paul and our speaker Joe. these guys really pushed us to fully engage and push past the initial awkward phase of the trip. By the second night I was feeling the same warmth that took me the whole week to get last year. Those of you who have been on mission trips might know what I’m talking about. It usually takes most of the week to get this feeling. So, it got me thinking, where do we go from here. I already made it to the summit and we have more than half a week to go. In truth, when you’re already at the top the only way to go is down.
The same day that I felt the presence of God was the same day that I became mad at God. to understand why I was mad with God I need to explain where I found Him.
Right before the end of worship Joe our speaker, had us go into silent meditation. We were going to be there for a while so I thought I’d go to my “Happy Place”. This “Happy Place” was a place I had created for me and God to meet and talk about where I was, where I was going and what I need to do. My happy place is a beach in Upper Michigan. My favorite place in the whole world.
In the past I had gone there and I usually am there alone and I reflect to myself, but prior to this week I had met with Jesus there. The first time I met Him there he told me that I should do more for Him. Not long after that The World Race (TWR) found its way to me. The next time after that was a very short interaction where God called me over to Him and said that we were moving to a new place. That was after I had gotten accepted to TWR.
On the second day of this mission trip I went there again and once more God was there with me, but this was different. It felt different. I could accept that my first two meetings with Christ at this place were manifestations of my own mind, but this time I knew that he was really there something about Him seemed more real than ever before. Which only made my anger worse in the end.
I was mad because we were still on the same beach, looking out at the same water that I had stared at so many times before and there Jesus sat silently. So close to me I could feel the heat radiating off of him like the sun and he said nothing. He just stared at the water, it was like he was waiting for something.
I was furious. Why would he come and not say anything? Why wouldn’t he look at me? Why were we still on the same beach? After worship I went to holy hour in the church. I didn’t last long there. I prayed for answers and left about fifteen minutes in. Needless to say I was a bit of a jerk that night and said little before it was time for lights out.
Click link for part two:
http://connorquick.theworldrace.org/post/introspection-and-good-endings-a-week-in-lafayette-part-2
