This month, my team has been doing many different types of ministry. Some of my teammates teach English, one of them is painting a mural at a school to promote literacy, a few of us work at cafés, and all of us have at least two different ministries per day in any combination of those things, plus a few other options.
Today was my first day volunteering at the trauma hospital (which is all too fitting considering that I just recovered from being sick).
At the hospital we can do two things: 1. Make greeting cards which are sold by the hospital as a means of additional income 2. Visit with patients in the ward. (Sit with them, play games with them, color with them… whatever they would like to do.)
Today, I got to visit with patients and I met my new friend Fawn. She was eager to play games and her first choice was Connect Four. We must have played at least ten rounds. I won maybe two of those, and I promise I was trying!
In the midst of my continuous losing I heard God speak.
Part of my motivation to come on the race was the fact that I currently hold a college degree that I don’t necessarily intend on using (in the way my degree was intended, at least). This past week I started doing some preliminary job searching. I know that it’s early in my Race, but I mostly wanted to start to get a feel for what I would like to pursue, where I may want to live, and what types of jobs are open.
Another thing that you need to know is that the beginning of this month was hard. I mean truly exhausting. I was starting to feel worn out and it was then that the Lord directed me to the blog of a former racer (because these things just circulate forever). Lo and behold, when I got to his blog he had one titled “I’m tired… but it’s only month 4…” Ok… I see you God. In this blog he talked all about how he thought that God wasn’t giving him what he needed to grow, but in reality he just didn’t know what he needed.
“My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.”
??Isaiah? ?55:8? ?(CEB??)
Now you are asking… “How on earth does this relate to your game of Connect Four?” Well as I lost that game round after round, God connected the dots for me. It was too difficult for me to keep track of all of the ways my opponent could win while keeping track of all of the ways that I could win.
I heard Him whisper to me about how that is exactly what happens when I try to take hold of my own life and steer its course.
I cannot possibly keep track of all of the options and outcomes. It is too much for my mind to handle, and even when I try, I often lose because I am missing an opportunity that can only be provided by the Lord. In all of the job searching, restlessness, and demanding, I have lost sight of the true goal. The true goal is not money, worldly success, or fame, but a complete reliance on the Father and a deeper intimacy with Him as a result.
The only way that we truly win is by following the Lord in all things. Although every Sunday school teacher, preacher, and good Christian out there would tell you that, it often takes a Connect Four moment to really see it.
