As I write this I have been in South Africa one week to the day. To be honest I have had the opportunity to experience numerous emotions since arriving. Gratitude and thankfulness when I was shown our very western living conditions, apprehension mixed with a little bit of fear as I learned I would be driving my team around town without the benefit of a local sitting next to me and finally sorrow and a hint of frustration as my team and I visited and worked in one of the local townships. It was with this frustration that God reminded me of a very important truth.
It is winter here in South Africa and the weather has been very mild, which has been rather enjoyable. However, I have discovered that one can go for days without seeing the sun and let me just say that can very much affect one’s attitude, especially in the midst of serving. Yesterday was just such a day…myself and the team were still doing some work around the youth center where we are staying. It had been a tiring week of many firsts, we were looking forward to the upcoming weekend and once again it was rather dreary and overcast outside. I was carrying a box of supplies to the storage room in the courtyard when I realized that I saw my shadow and I then noticed that I felt a wonderful warmth on the back of my neck. I nearly dropped the box I was holding as I spun around and turned my face into the rays of a bright shining sun. It seemed like an eternity since I had experienced sunshine and I wanted to enjoy every single moment that I could. I stood there in silence and stillness just enjoying the moment when I was reminded that my life and more specifically these next months on my journey are quite similar to that moment in the sunshine. Just as my entire day had been characterized by clouds and overcast skies, that reality did not take away from the joy and the legitimacy of my moment in the sunshine nor can all the heartache, despair, frustration and pain detract from the joy of knowing my Savior.
That is what God reminded me of in that moment. I am surrounded by problems I cannot fix, questions I cannot answer and disparities that I will never be able to reconcile. However, if I am able to reveal and show Christ and His love to even a single individual my efforts and sacrifices are not even close to being in vain. I do not claim to know or understand how this works but I know that in God’s economy it does and this is one of the Truths that keeps me going throughout my day. So, I remember and I wait; I remember that the Lord remains sovereign through every situation and circumstance and I keep waiting for the sunshine.
Until next time,
MB
