What would you do?
We lived in a very remote area and our contact did not have a car so on Sundays we would get up around 5:30 AM and leave around 6:15 AM for a two mile hike to the bus which arrived at 7:00 AM. Now keep in mind that it is quite chilly here this time of year and the sun has not come up yet. Once we arrive at the bus stop there may be a wee little bit of space on the bus for six girls to squeeze on or it may be so packed we have to wait an extra 40 min. for it to drop off the current passengers and then come back for us. In any case, once we have finally boarded the bus and spent about 30 min. riding into town where the church is we have about another ½ to 1 mile to walk before we actually arrive at church, somewhere between 7:30 or 8:30 and church does not begin until 10. Now the first Sunday we did this we arrived around 7:30 or 7:40 and waited in the church for 2 ½ hrs before the service started. The church has no heat and I honestly like I was going to freeze. The rest of the Sundays we hung out at the houses where the teams who lived in that town stayed. I found this to be quite an exciting experience and doing it for 3 Sundays really was not that bad. However, during these walks to and from church the thought always came to mind, “would I really be that dedicated to attending church if I had to do this every Sunday.” Although I would like to say, “Yes, of course I would still go to church” I honestly do not think I would. I mean honestly, there have been times at home where I am tired and only have to jump in the car for a 15 min. drive and I decide I don’t feel like getting up and going to church. If I had to wake up at 5:30 AM every morning and walk for 6 miles every Sunday to get to church I doubt I would go that often. Through this though the Lord has really showed me one small aspect of what it looks like to be dedicated to Him. Although at this point I cannot say that I would be that diligent in attending church, I would really like to be and I am trusting that the Lord will continue to guide me and lead me to a point where I can say, “I know I hate getting up so early in the morning and the prospect of a two mile hike to church does not seem very appealing, because the Lord desires us to be in community and fellowship with one another I will go.” Philippians 1:6 says, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” and I am confident that the Lord will continue to work in my heart and help me grow in Him.
