I wanted to whine this morning. Karen and I got a bad cold (she in Cape Town, me two days later here in the Yucatan). So we were running a little ragged. It’s been a crazy week – we flew from South Africa to Atlanta, stopped a day to do laundry, and then took off for the jungles of Palenque, Mexico.
En route I got a call from my coworker and buddy Clint Bokelman. He gave me the early notice on what quickly became international news. Our team in Jamaica had been robbed at gunpoint (see yesterday’s blog).
Fortunately Clint and his team are quite capable and handled the thing wonderfully. So Karen and I were able to turn our focus to launching our July World Race team. We’re committing ourselves to a new model – where a couple like ourselves acts as spiritual parents to a group of 32 World Racers for the next three years, beginning with this year.
All our planes connected on time and we got great seats and the training went well, but there’s something inside me that still wants to say, “Look at how tough all this is – somebody notice me.”
Why is that? I mean, we’ve got a great life and God has given us wonderful ministry to do. We trained these young people and invested ourselves. And when my throat needed prayer this morning, Kara boldly came up, placed her hand on it and prayed for healing. Result: I made it through the day, voice intact.
I have no real need to be noticed or garner sympathy or accolades for my service to God. If I’m being poured out and made to stretch a little then maybe that’s his grace taking me beyond the confines of my distressingly needy flesh.
Whining is never a winsome trait, even when we don’t give voice to the demands of that wretched little tantrum-throwing child inside. Most of the whining I do is internal – stupid temptations that stop at the door of my mouth. My guess is that I’m not alone in this (and even that is an ironic consolation). More of us need to commit to the privilege of being poured out.
(P.S. Pray for traveling mercies as we fly to Chicago and then attend Chad and Erin’s wedding. After that, it’s on to Santa Barbara).
Seth, I marvel at all you do, I do not know anyone that works harder than you….I still would love to see you resting more, but know you are seen by HIM!
love you buddy,
take a NAP!
A generation in noticing…
Black… amen and amen.
A generation that is following the lead of the spiritual fathers and mothers that have discipled them.
“Raise a child up in the ways… and when they are old…” Proverbs something:something
Be blessed this day, knowing that you are truly a blessing.
Your friend from the North,
Mike
A life “poured out” is never a wasted life and God notices what man overlooks. The “up and coming” generation have so desperately needed your and Karen’s example of steadfast love and committment, From this senior citizen who is on the other end of life, I say a big thank you for encouraging me in the knowledge that God’s work will continue when we(my generation) finally end our race.
Blacks, Mike, & Jam,
thanks for the encouragement. and Lisa, I intend to sleep in tomorrow morning! we’re here in Chicago now – watching fireworks out the window of the Hampton Inn. Deep dish pizza is arriving any second now.
Blessings and Thanks for all you do. Your blog has been a blessing in my life and I find that we are often on the same page even though you have had the courage to reach much farther than myself. I think that I should be noticed for anything that I do that is the least bit out of my routine. I don’t voice it-LOL, but its there. Guess I will spend this weekend doing some good deeds and not letting it be known that I did them….maybe that will still King Baby that lives inside.