I’m
realizing that I don’t always know the growth that is occurring in me on this
trip. Sometimes I have moments where I can say, “Well that’s a first for me.�
Like when I ate a fried minnow for breakfast or killed a chicken. Neither of
these I will continue in America. However some things I have learned &
experienced I want to repeat and incorporate in my future life.
One
thing I’ve learned through experience is Family Meeting. Basically a family meeting is where all family members sit
down for a real stern talkin’ to, as we’d say in the south. It’s where the Dad
lays down the law & lovingly reminded of the rules to obey.
My
first experience with a Family Meeting was at the Awakening Conference when the man in charge of the
World Race, Michael Hinds, sternly rebuke a group of people who had done
something wrong. He didn’t yell. He didn’t scream at the top of his lungs. But
anyone could tell that you didn’t cross the man. And though I didn’t do the
wrong, I felt reprimanded. I knew that the conversation came from a place of
love rather than anger. It was a GREAT learning moment for me of how to give
rebuke yet still love.
My
second experience with a Family Meeting was tonight with our contact. Every night we all (him, his
wife, their 4 kids, & us) sit down after dinner & sing & pray
together before sleeping. Unknowingly, tonight the meeting would turn into a
Family Meeting. Our Tanzanian Dad started telling us a story and a few moments
into it, you could tell what the outcome would be. (Since it was a Family
Meeting, we are keeping it in the family.) The point is, I sat in this surreal
moment, watching a man of honor & integrity demonstrate how to handle
conflict within a family unit. Clearly it wasn’t a celebrating moment, but the
experience taught me much.
(Rachael,
I felt like I was a Goodwin child sitting in on a Vain Glory study from your
dad…J
)
Both
of these accounts have given me GREAT perspective on handling conflict where
anger could override. Both of these men of God walked in honor & love
without ignoring sin. Their hearts were full of love, seeking change rather
than malice revenge. It’s
something very rare to me. It’s not often you get to be behind closed doors for
a father’s rebuke of a child. It’s rare to have discipline modeled for you…when
you aren’t on the receiving in. So while, neither experience came without
someone having screwed up, I’m grateful for the father figures who walked
humbly & lovingly before me to show me the right way.
Family Meetings: tough but needed. They are
for sure one of the things I will repeat from the race. Because we all know
that conflict will come.
