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.