What is God's will?

A friend of mine asked me the other day "Can't you go anywhere else besides Haiti?" He's not the first one to ask me that question. Behind that question is always the reality of Haiti: the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, the history of tragedy after tragedy, a government that doesn't seem to be able to quite accomplish the best for the people - not to mention the corruption in their past political leadership. I am hopeful that the present leadership is moving to the beat of a different drummer.

I also think of my aunt who went to Haiti back in the 1950's. I don't remember this, but my brother has told me how she never talked about that trip once she got back. Why was that? What had been her experience? I shared my experience from my first trip there with as many people as wanted to hear it. We went to Churches and civic organizations and shared our story and our pictures when we returned from the last time.

When I was in College and then in Seminary, somewhere along that part of my journey, I got intointo my mind the notion that I wanted to go to Haiti. That was why I went the first time and ended up experiencing the the 2010 earthquake on the 2nd floor of a church. I believe that idea was placed there by God. It is sort of like when we drop seeds in the soil for our garden plot. We expect the seeds will grow and produce some crop to eat or flower to produce beautiful colors. This time, going to Haiti is a follow up to that first trip. In my mind, I'm only doing follow up from that first trip. For what ultimate purpose? Only God knows the full answer to that.

I have my ideas: Complete what was cut short the first time, to go there with my daughter, to fulfill some yearning within myself - the desire for adventure, maybe to even prove something to myself. All of these factors are definitely at play.

How do we know that if what we are doing is God's will or not? That is a question we don't  seem  capable of answering very quickly. Oftentimes we can't answer that question at all. It begins with the placement of our heart. What are the commitments we make? But specifically, for me, the commitment I made - in faith - to follow my Savior, Jesus. That set me on a course to desire or even think about God's will. Following God, as I understand the Bible, means that I am choosing to set aside my own will (die to myself or my self-will). Now, there is the challenge. I like what I like and I like and want it now. Whereas God is much more patient and selfless and many other things which I am not.

Oh well, the journey is an adventure for sure.

Movers & Groovers

The snow is falling and the cold air is freezing to the skin. It started this morning at about 10 degrees. Where it is now - 9:23 am - I am not sure. Still cold. Snow falls and the sun shines. That is a beautiful combination. I lean toward liking the sun shine more than the snow fall, though.

 

I'm reading an article about Lent. These are some of the comments in this article. "In my recent reading about creativity, I have stumbled over this concept in many places 'the on/off pulse of creativity.' Those who have studied the creative process are aware that we don't have the physical, emotional, and/or spiritual capacity to be on all the time. For anything new or novel to come from our minds, our lives, we must press in at times and then back off at other times. In the pressing in, we dive deeply into the heart of the creative process. In backing off, we create space for...the Spirit to enter. Both are necessary for something new or novel to emerge from our lives."

This strikes a cord in me. I and a couple other people are fasting a couple meals one day per week. That is a weekly reminder for me to pray for the nation of Haiti. By having this season of fasting, I am again experiencing a sense of pulsation in my week. It is as though the one day of fasting and pray has become like the electric charge which our heart receives and the muscle is stimulated to pump blood throughout our body. Without that electric charge, we would die because it is necessary for the blood to circulate and not stagnate.

The Spirit is like that. It needs to be stimulated  so that it will circulate. The Spirit of God and the human spirit, by design, are movers and groovers. They have a certain rhythm (and blues) to it.

What is it that at the present stimulates the Spirit within you? Just a thought.

Thinking and Praying

Vern Groves

10:43 AM - 

I'm thinking and specifically praying today about Haiti and the team who are all taveling there on April second thru the sixteenth. I'm feeling a bit anxious. Don't know why. But that is where I'm at. As I remember my last trip, three years ago, I recall I felt some anxiety prior to that trip as well.

With my continued reading of another book by Paul Farmer, "Haiti - After the Earthquake" I am finding...Expand this post »

I'm thinking and specifically praying today about Haiti and the team who are all taveling there. I'm feeling a bit anxious. Don't know why. But that is where I'm at. As I remember my last trip, three years ago, I recall I felt some anxiety prior to that trip as well.

With my continued reading of another book by Paul Farmer, "Haiti - After the Earthquake" I am finding that book more positive and hopeful for the people of Haiti. That is what I have been searching for - some hope and possibility for things in Haiti to move forward. There is still much rubble which has not been removed. There are still many people that are living in temporary housing. There is still a cholera epidemic (I need to make sure I get cholera shots). There is still a government that is not centralized or organized as it needs to be for the sake of the country. There is still a very high unemployment rate. There is still a deprived system of clean water and a lack of system for sewage and all waste removal.

But in the midst of all this which seems hopeless, I am feeling encouraged by some small spots of progress. Schools are being rebuilt. 52.9% of the money sent in 2010 and 2011 has been disbursed. That is better than the 2008 hurrican season when 15% of pledges were disbursed.

I know, the downside seems steeper than the upside. But, in Haiti, one must seize onto what small doses of progress you can.