I was scrolling through my emails trying to find a link when I came across this quote:
God relishes surprise.
We want lives of simple, predictable ease — smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see — but God likes to go off-road.
He provokes us with twists and turns.
He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension — and yet don’t. By his love and grace, we persevere.”
— Tony Snow (1955-2008).
Ironically, my Dad was the one who emailed us kids this quote. My Dad was always up a for an adventure. I believe that’s where I get my love for travel. My Dad didn’t care if it was a road trip to North Carolina or a missions trip to Brazil. He was totally up for wherever and whatever the Lord wanted him to do — even if it came with challenges.
My Dad was the most confident man I know. He was so sure in God that it didn’t matter what the storm blew in. He knew God had his back.
I just recently returned from a trip to England and Ireland. Some of you might know that I used to travel extensively; as it was a part of my job. But, I was always a little nervous to travel on my own. The way this tripped worked out was that
I’d be traveling solo the first few days and then meet up with friends.
Some of you might think this isn’t a big deal and it’s not. But, to me, I was a bit nervous going by myself. I’m so used to people being around. But, I knew I should go.
Traveling is also expensive. I had enough for my ticket, but when it got closer to the trip, I was starting to worry a little about lodging because things hadn’t lined up as I had hoped.
Call me crazy, but I felt like the Lord told me, “Don’t you think I can afford this trip?” And I was like yeah, but how are you going to get that money to me. I’m such a skeptic sometimes.
A month or so before my trip, a family friend wrote me a check for this trip which covered all my lodging cost and some. I couldn’t believe it… Then when I had a few extra costs I wasn’t counting on, another friend sent me a check. I kept thinking, “God, why are you doing this? I’ve hardly talked to you this year. And most of the year I’ve been mad and confused by You.”
But, on this trip, I felt like the weight of life that I’ve been carrying fell off somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve felt dead inside since last summer and this trip felt like CPR for my heart and soul.
Sometimes, I think we do need to go off-roading. It’s in the off-reading we finally are able to break the deafening silence between our Maker and us. It’s not like things make any more sense, but there is a sense of grace and understanding that God understands and I’ve got to persevere.
I want to leave you with a few quotes from one of my hero’s — Elizabeth Elliot:
o The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it’s going to be a lot better and a lot bigger.
o Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes.’
o It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while he is the end of our journey, he is also at every stopping place.
And as Mark Twain said… “Catch the trade winds in you sail… Explore. Dream. Discover.”
