Wednesday, August 26th
Galway, Ireland
I had a talk with God a few nights ago…about the moon. We were walking back from ministry one night and we could actually see the stars. I had to stop and look at them because I have not seen stars since I left home. If you will remember, the weather hasn’t been awesome. And where there is intense wind and rain, there are clouds … which cover things like stars and the moon. I stood outside and gazed at the stars and was greeted by my old friend the big dipper. I looked for other constellations and then the moon. My search for the moon ended quickly, as it is generally easy to figure out if it is out or not. So, I walked back to my tent thanking God for His glimpse of glory and asking for a bit more.
The next day, we had an amazing day of ministry. We walked around Galway and talked to people. We met one man by accident. We were looking for a coffee shop to hang out with some of the locals. And our search for the coffee shop landed us in the company of Dez. He was wearing all black, smoking, lots of tattoo – a hard appearance, but he was full of directions. He sent us in the right direction just before we asked him how he was. That simple question landed us in a 45 minute conversation. Mostly, it was him talking. And I use the term talking very loosely. The ‘f’ word was about every other word. Perhaps the funniest part of the conversation was when he called someone a prick, followed by “excuse my french.” He was very much against the catholic church – which is the general theme here. He knew that there was “something” that created him but claimed to be an antheist and generally accepting of other religions. I tried to tell him about Jesus and what He meant to me and did for me and he told me that the “Jesus bit” doesn’t make sense – how do you explain dinosaurs. Really, is that what is keeping you from a relationship with Jesus? He wasn’t open to hearing more about it but invited us to the metal bar he worked at. I hope this converstaion left him thinking, because it did me. I Peter 3:15 says to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. He didn’t ask. The dinosaur question was more rhetorical. Rhetoric to make himself feel better about the relationship he was denying. But if he had of asked me, what would my answer have been? Would I have been able to give him a legitimate answer about the hope that is in me. In light of other religions, probably not. But most assuredly about what Christ has done in me and for me. With thoughts of that swimming in my head, we proceeded on our way. Only to pass by a man who was visibly drunk. Mind you it was 2:30 in the afternoon. He was stumbling toward the road – as in oncoming traffic. So, I stopped him and he handed me twenty euro to take him to the hospital. We got him a cab, but as we waited for him he held on to me to stand up and the stinch of alcohol on his breath was heavy. So heavy, I had to look away when he was explaining to me what he needed.
I left that day a little heavy. Heavy with what to do and how to love people best. After our team meeting, we decided to take a walk and maybe go on the big wheel that is down the road from our campground. Afterall, the lights and sounds of the fair call out to us as we pass it by everyday! So, we set off for fun adventures. We barely begin our walk and I step in dog poop. And not just a little step. I had jeans on and it got on the cuff and onto the back of my chacos. It was in the grooves of the chacos, my jeans, and more. It was almost too much to handle. I was able to clean it off, all the while cursing the dogs that I once loved seeing daily. But I became thankful for this mishap, when we turned the corner and out from the clouds came this:
I was literally brought to tears. Still am, as I recall the day. He is so good. So faithful. So wonderful. So sweet. He doesn’t waste anything – not converstaions with people that don’t claim to know Him or love Him. Not stepping in dog poop. Nothing! He is so amazing and I am so thankful to be His. He never ceases to amaze me. Never ceases to love me. Never ceases to show me just how much He loves me. He is that good!
