changing winds

sometimes you can sit on a back porch on a nice day with a light breeze and see the soft tree limbs bounce back and forth.  the winds blow you one way a bit, and they pull you back a bit.  it's all a fun little game.

then the wind will pick up something fierce from a new direction, and with it rolls in a storm driving you off the porch to the living room inside.  

maybe that's how we see changing winds, as putting a damper on our plans.  we can also see them as driving us in new directions.  after all, could a sailor really sail without the wind behind him (well, yes, but not very fast).

this past week has left me a little winded to say the least.  just over two weeks from take off to Jena, I found out that the opportunity to work with one of my best friends down in Mexico was very real.  I all but cancelled my plane tickets and drove my self on down to Phoenix and beyond to live lovely Sonora, but I didn't.

I knew I needed to tap the breaks, if only ever so slightly, and get some advice.  I waited a bit and talked to my parents and some friends.  Then I talked to Rob Harris, director of Kontaktmission USA.  What he reminded me of has now become the wind in my sails to Germany.

It's pretty common when we as American Christians think of missions to first think of South America, Africa, or China.  These places, or places similar, are in obvious need.  They need houses built or wells dug or Bibles summgled in past oppressive governments.   In meeting their needs we can show them our love we've learned from Christ and bring them new hope and faith in him.  These works are all great, and most of us jump at the chance to go out and fill these needs or at least support those who can do so.

What we forget about are sometimes places much closer, if only in thought.  We forget a lot about our own communities, and that's a problem in itself, but who we seem to forget the most about are the millions of men and women living well over in Europe.  We see their wealth and high culture, and we write of the need.  The sad thing is they usually see their wealth and high culture and write themselves off as well.  With all their things, they don't need God anymore.  But they do.

I know the needs of the world can be met in so many ways, but I also believe they should all be met as much as possible.  With so many people working in the third world, I can hardly justify moving myself their.

Personally, I know that I am uniquely able to serve in Jena with this church where many others would not be able.  For this reason, I set myself to go.

Who's going with me?

.jrs.