It's OK to Enjoy ...

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4: 4-7

We Christians are to be joyful, at peace, and content, regardless of our circumstances, knowing God is in control and this is all temporary. For most of my life, I thought of this as a command for when things are hard. Deep down I thought that I was supposed to be going through hard times all the time or, at least, I was to be sharing in the sorrow of others. In fact, I thought that if I was having a good time, I must not really be understanding what others were going through. I also hoped that God would enable me to somehow survive with some faith, joy, peace and contentment if things ever went really bad – like Holocaust – type bad. I know, I’m dramatic, but that is how I thought. I still hope His power will allow me to make it with my faith and trust in tact, no matter what.

But, as I studied God on His terms, it came clear to me that I was misreading scripture. I needed to read more carefully. In fact, that seems to be a common reason for lots of problems: we either don’t read God’s Word at all and think we’ve got the gist of it from others, or we read it but don’t really listen carefully to it. I make both mistakes many times.

God doesn’t say in the verses above, or anywhere else I can find, to be joyful, peaceful, and content when things are tough; He says to be joyful, at peace, and content in all circumstances. When I realized that circumstances could be good too, I realized I was trying to be a man-made martyr instead of a follower of the real Christ Jesus.

I was blessed today with comfort, safety, pampering, love, convenience, and a freedom that I thought I’d never feel again once the responsibilities of raising a family took over my life. We flew away from our lives, having pushed ‘pause’ for almost 4 ½ months. Who gets to do that? We were blessed to have been given flights to Europe and back … in Business Class. You know, those awesome personal cubicles where the bed lays flat, you are fed 2 beautiful meals, unlimited beverages of all kinds, and a personal TV with lots of movies! We didn’t wait in even 1 line all day and were directed to the special lounges where free food and drinks, wifi, comfortable couches, and friendly servers made us feel like the rich and famous.

There was a moment when I felt guilty. I didn’t want people passing me to go sit in coach. Why do I deserve this? Many people passing were elderly, frail, or looked very stressed. The thought crossed my mind to give up my seat to a poor old guy who fell down on the gangway but (thankfully) the opportunity didn’t present itself. Phew! Then I realized: this was a gift just for me, today. I prayed God would give just the perfect gifts to each one of the others walking onto the plane and I thanked Him for this day and the perfect gifts I am given.

We are here in Germany. We will be working for, with, and being trained by people who give their all and everything for the huge number of AIDS affected children in Africa. I feel humbled, a bit nervous, and very conscious of my tendency to want to fix everything and brainstorm all sorts of idea. Andy and I are here to support the people who do this work with their whole lives, not to adjust, brainstorm, or critique anything.

I want to understand one very scary issue, however. What is being done, and can be done, for the millions of children who have been saved by organizations like Christ’s Hope Int’l over the past 2 decades, as they become adults? I know how hard it is to help foster youth emancipate and become fully functioning adults in the US. What does the future look like with this enormous population?

It is scary because it may lead to a calling to do something about it. I can’t even thing about anything right now, just coming off of the marathon of wrapping up at work and home to get away for so long. My life is so full and often frenetic. I want it to slow down, not take something more on.

And yet, I am here and excited to get to learning and working. I don't have to take on the whole problem; my job is to just show up and do what I am equipped to do with the time and energy and skills I have. I don't have to be depressed about all I see to prove I care. I need to pray constantly and remember that I am not in charge or responsible. I am a cog in the wheel to where God is going and I am along for the ride while I do my job. No turning back.