The People Along the Way

This week I've been reminded that it's not about the journey.

It's about the people we meet along the way.

I went to the travel clinic on Tuesday, to pick up some scrips and get some shots. There was next to no wait before I was chatting with the doctor. We chatted about immunities, the weather, allergies, and odd diseases. We had a bit of a debate about whether or not I really did have hepatitis when I was thirteen (I found the two weeks of agonizing pain and extreme lethargy coupled with the bright yellow eyeballs and skin to be rather convincing). Then we moved on to topics like cancer and death. He told me a story about a friend of his, and we talked about how we almost never know the 'Why' behind our pains. We just have to get through them -- and then walk alongside others with a truly understanding empathy. We agreed that it's all in God's hands. Then he looked at me and told me that most of the people he sees in that clinic are traveling for business or pleasure. "Thank you for doing this mission," he said, before walking back out of my life.

Then the nurse entered, with forms to sign and shots to administer. I sat on the table trying to stay calm -- flash backs of all those other inoculations were flying through my mind. Yellow fever, polio, that tb shot in Paris -- still have the scar from it. Oh, and that one in the back... Then I thought of the time when Wesley was two and we brought him out to visit my parents in Cote D'Ivoire. He got a bunch of shots. After, the nurse asked if he wanted a sticker. He started screaming! For a good year after that, he'd cry whenever anyone offered him a sticker... I felt like telling this nurse that I'd changed my mind. I didn't want a sticker after all.

She got the shots ready and began heading to my left arm. I told her everything had to go in the right because I'd had lymph nodes removed. She nodded, and told me she was sorry. Then we started talking. It turns out she was a breast cancer survivor (just like me). Almost five years (just like me). She'd had reconstruction when she was 38 (just like me). But she was a step ahead of me on the journey. I asked her questions, she asked me questions. We kept talking long after the shots were administered; comparing notes, giving and getting support. "I'm so glad I met you today," she said as she finally left the room.

That wasn't the travel clinic I had intended to go to. It was simply the travel clinic that had an open appointment slot. That wasn't the only doctor at the clinic, and she wasn't the only nurse working that day. But that was the nurse God had prearranged for me to meet.

We may never hear the back story behind most of the events and 'coincidences' in our lives. We won't know what had to happen to allow two strangers to bump into each other for such a short period of time. We just have to remember to always keep our eyes and ears open.

Enjoy the journey, and take time to get to know some of your fellow travelers.

Oh, by the way, the doctor ordered a blood draw to check, and I ended up winning the argument about having Hepatitis. That's one shot I'll never need to have.

I'm Going!

I’m going to the Dominican!

Here’s what happened:

Back in February, at Grammy’s 90^th birthday party, the leader of our church’s annual April vacation expedition approached my son to ask if he wanted to join the team. Someone had backed out, but their scholarship was still available. So my son said yes. I briefly looked into joining myself, but I would have to buy a separate ticket and raise the rest of the funds. Also, there was the minor detail of not actually having an April vacation – we’d had so many snow days after the Halloween snow storm that the school committee chose to get rid of the April vacation to keep the summer one.

Of course, after this mild winter, they graciously gave back our April vacation.

Then, last Saturday, a friend texted me and asked me to pray about going on the trip with them. Someone else had to back out due to health issues. I made my list of pros and cons and stopped by her house the next day to discuss it. She and her husband quickly refuted and crossed each con off my list – except for the issue of money. Unfortunately, there was no scholarship – I’d have to come up with the money in less than two weeks. They offered me $200 on the spot. Only $1200 to go… Undecided, I went home. Where I found an unexpected back child support check for $1500 waiting for me on the table.

I spent the next two days in prayer, and garnished some long distance support from a friend. I went for a long walk in the woods and found a tree fallen across a river where I curled up and chatted with Abba. Still no answer. I was completely undecided – but it felt like God was slowly peeling me like an onion as we discussed each aspect. Do I really want to go? Why do I want to go? What am I so scared of? What will I do there? What about staying here and getting my book done?

Finally, on Tuesday, I went to visit Grammy. She knows all the answers. She looked at me and said, “If it were me, I would say no. But you have to decide what He wants you to do.” So I kept praying. It was Wednesday morning, when I suddenly found a strong desire in my heart to go. I wanted to see the women and children I’d been praying for. I wanted to encourage the teens who’d been through my Sunday school class and had joined this trip. I wanted to be an on-the-spot prayer friend for my friends who were going…

Finally, I just whisper-shouted up to Abba, “Can I go?” His “Yes, child” came back before I’d even finished the question and I was halfway through the next question before I’d realized He’d answered. I danced through the rest of the morning and went on-line to order my ticket during my prep (I worked through lunch to make up the time). I typed in the date, and selected the flight number that my son would be on – “There is one seat left on this flight” – and I booked my trip.

This Saturday I stopped by to visit with Grammy and let her know that I’d chosen to go. I was a little worried about how she’d feel about it, but she only smiled at me and said, “I know you are. It was the right choice for you to make.” We talked a little more, then she told me that she used to support the Sugar Cane Kids project. She can’t send money anymore, so now she’s sending her granddaughter and great grandson with her blessing.

Don’t you love how Abba answers prayers?

I’m going to the Dominican!

Bug on a Window

The other day, I innocently crawled into my car, buckled up, and started the engine. Then I noticed the bug on my driver’s side window. Now, normally, bugs don’t bother me at all. But when I’m restrained in a confined space and suddenly discover one two inches from my eyeball I am prone to a bit of panic. But before I began screaming, I cautiously reached over to touch the glass and confirm if the little critter was on the inside or outside. Finding him safely outside, I shifted into reverse and began my journey.

But as I began picking up speed, shifting into first, then second, then third, I watched the little bug clinging desperately to my window. Every maternal instinct kicked in, and I found myself praying for that poor bug…

And it got me thinking. How I felt about that bug is how I should feel about all the people around me. Some of us are just hanging on for dear life. We were merely flying around our happy world. We stopped to rest for a moment, then suddenly our safe, still world began rocketing forward at a speed we never imagined possible. We have no clue what’s going on. We can’t even begin to imagine what might happen next. We cling with every ounce of strength and desperation we can squeeze out of our petrified hearts – never realizing that sometimes it might be better to simply let go.

Because We’ve got a safety net behind us. We’ve got a God Who controls the speed of the vehicle, and shifts the directions of the winds. Sometimes our world isn’t supposed to be under our control – but it’s always under His.

Oh what a peace I find in this:  

My God has absolute authority over all of my unknowns. 

And He loves me more than I could ever know or long for…

So I learned two things from that little bug on my window.

One -- I need to be more faithful about praying for all of the people God brings across my path. I ought to be praying for them so much more fervently than for that little critter.

Two -- I need to let go. To stop trying to make my world right again in my own strength. To trust that each new chaos can lead to a beautiful bout of trust as I float on the breeze of His guidance.

I don’t know what happened to that bug. I glanced back at the window and he was gone. But I’m hopeful. I’ve nicknamed him Enoch…