Lessons from the road!

It really is quite an amazing place we live in.  It is rustic, no doubt.  But God's beauty surrounds us.  We just traveled the 145 mile trip to the capitol.  That's roughly Wichita to Austin's childhood home in S.E. Kansas.  But it usually takes us 6 1/2 hours.  This time it took us 8 hours.  But it was a really good trip; one where I was able to reflect quite a bit.  I think my life, and heart journey here in Aobistan, has many similarities with the road trip.  I thought I would share a few.

I'm learning it's all about the expectations!

This is how the trip began; an obvious proclamation of God's glory, both in the sky and in the land.  With this view before me, only 10 minutes into the trip, my heart was tuned and alert to what Father had for me to see.  Expecting His Majesty, I was far from disappointed.  On the days I start life expecting to see Him, at work in me, at work in those I love and those around me . . . it never fails that I do.  On days where my feet first hit the floor with dread heavy in my heart, it feels like an up hill battle to see the goodness and mercy He has promised will chase after me all my days.

There are guaranteed to be rough spots!

Rumour is there are fixing the road from where the road forks and the 3 hours of bumping commence.  If you've been to visit, you know that stretch of road that can rattle your brains out and leave you feeling like you are honestly about to drive right of the edge of the world.  Since the rumours started circulating, I think we've seen 1 surveyor.  Repairs are a long way off.  So we set off on the road and we know that stretch of road will be hard.  It's that stretch of the trip I work hard to keep the encouragement coming.  Whether in the form of special snacks, or music per each family member's request, we fight hard to keep our spirits up.  

"Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,

but the Lord delivers him from them all."   Psalms 34:19

I'm realising that I'm far from arriving when it comes to figuring cross cultural living out, let alone cross cultural min.  Yet in the many rough spots of planting our lives here, I can trust in His deliverance.  And I can fight hard for the encouragement I/we need to make it. 

He has not left me here.

At some point as we neared the top of the mountains, and everywhere we looked I saw white capped peaks my heart was moved by His sweet whisper.  It was almost audible as He reminded me "I have created all of this."  Isn't it amazing when you step back and think of God speaking the mountains into existence.  And not just any old boring mountains, but awesomely, glorious mountains.  "But I am not distant.  I know you intimately and I am here, pursuing your heart," He continued to speak to me.  "and I am coming back for you!"  That just leaves me speechless.     

Pride, Foolishness and Sin, impact others too.  

You see these narrow roads?  Toward the end of the trip, the snow banks on both sides of the road crowd in.  Two lanes of traffic are squished into one lane and we must take turns.  We don't understand all the cultural rules about how it's determined when to go; when to stop; etc.  But there is some sort of order.  This time we followed a small town car, operating as a taxi.  Much of the way four of the patrons (paying for their seat in his car) pushed the car through the deep snow.  We had already been waiting, at standstill, for 45 minutes and everyone was eager to keep the line of vehicles moving.  "He better not get stuck" I uttered.  The driver's foolish selection of vehicle for the winter roads, his refusal to stop and put on chains directly impacts all of us.  His wheels spin, not gaining ground, as he's stuck in a deep rut.  You can almost feel the tension in the air as all the stopped vehicles loaded with weary passengers look on.  If he were to get stuck, both our lane and the on coming traffic would have to sit and wait for him to get it all sorted out.  

Yet my impatience, how I am quick to grow angry, the small exaggerations I tell in hopes of gaining the approval of man . . . all of these sins don't only impact me.  They spill over onto the lives of those around me.  And isn't it true of my heart, that I'm always wanting others to extend grace to me when "he better not get stuck" is the first response I have towards others. 

I know there were more lessons learnt from the time on the road, but these are the ones that come to mind.  

For all the pictures from the road trip: