Moving blocks..Moving more blocks..moving good blocks..moving bad blocks..moving bad blocks to a different location..blocks.blocks.blocks.
My life has been filled with cinder blocks for the past 2 weeks. At our construction site, things are not always done in the most efficient order. The present problem is only thought of when creating a solution, not the problems that could arise from the solution we create.
Moving these blocks has given me lots of time to think, pray, sing, smile and laugh.
Placing these blocks into piles has caused me to think about the way the Lord has been doing a mighty work within me and the way in which I deal with conflict, frustrations and disagreements. Normally, I would let the issues build and build– much like the way these blocks are placed into neatly formed columns. While forming these columns, I would think that I had gotten over things, only to realize that moving the problem was a disaster waiting to happen.
Letting conflict or frustrations build is not part of the world race environment. When living in constant community, (when I say constant..I mean CONSTANT-I eat with these people, I work with these people, I hang out with these people..everywhere I go I am with these people!) conflict and frustrations are not allowed to build. If I were to let them, I would be affecting the the community we are now part of. Knowing how much this can affect my teammates, the Lord has been working inside of me to deal with these conflicts in the moment, to have conversations..to use these issues to grow in my relationship with Christ and with the body as a whole.
Before the race I would deal with conflict by getting quiet and not sharing how I felt about something, saying that it didn't matter or I was already over it. I have come to realize that there can be no growth in this. If people don't know how things make me feel or my opinion, there is no room for growth.
In saying all of this, I believe that the Lord has truly placed me in a safe community where conflict is going to arise, but we have the opportunity to deal with it head on and I am looking forward to how Christ is going to grow this within me throughout the whole year.
