It seems that everything in life is a process. Steps that have to be taken to get to a certain point or reach a certain goal. Everything ranging from learning to walk to applying for a job requires passing certain benchmarks along the way. Regardless of what it is you are trying to get to, you always want to get there as quickly as humanly possible. Nobody likes to wait in line, sit in traffic, wait to open Christmas gifts, get put on hold, told you'll have to wait 45 mins. to get a seat. We want to be at the finish line yesterday.

During this time of searching for where the Lord wants me to be, I've learned the hard way about what patience really means. Not the kind of patience required when waiting for the traffic light to change, but rather the patience needed in managing life's challenges. The patience that forces you to fall on your knees and let the words "be still, and know that I am God" wrap around your soul and comfront you.

All throughout the Bible you read countless stories of men and woman who, against their desires, are called to wait on the Lord for years before they are used for one purpose or another. How did they get through that waiting period? I believe they did it by holding on to Isaiah 40:31...,"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." We have the promise that if we wait on the Lord, we too, will receive these blessing. That's the deep patience I feel like I'm learning and will undoubtedly continue to learn for the rest of my life.

Each morning I wake up, I've learned to simply ask the Lord to sustain me by His grace for that day as I wait on Him. It takes patience to learn patience.

We sang this at church this morning and it really is the image of the gospel...

"Before the Throne of God" C.L. Bancroft

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is "Love," who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb, my perfect, spotless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I Am, the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ, my Savior and my God.

Here's a couple of pictures from Dave and Amy's trip to St. John.

 

It's just my luck that after I make the analogy that "life is a lot like bumper cars"... I get hit by a guy backing out of his driveway. Well, I guess it's back to the dealership for a new door and mirrow...after just getting it back from them. Everyone I have told has had the same reaction...they've all laughted. Not cause it's funny, but because they know it's just another thing to add to the list of unfortunate luck.  

I've been thinking alot lately about the timing of events in our lives. Specifically events that happen that knock us off track. Then the thought occured to me that life is alot like bumper cars. You remember the fun it was to get in that electric car that was wrapped in a rubber bumper and then go smash into anyone and anything that got in your way. You ram into someone and you get turned around or you end up leaving a mark of paint or dent on their car. How true this is with those in our life and the bumps we take with each other. I'm not suggesting that we are simply getting tossed around aimlessly or that our path in life is controlled by another person, but rather the bumps we do take shape and chisel us into the type of person we are becoming. The bumping into each other may result in us being pushed back or jarred in a new direction, but isn't that the adventure and freedom that life calls us to have. I'd rather have a life of being knocked around with my foot on the gas pedal than one where I'm just sitting idle.
I believe that you go nowhere in life by accident and the people that are in our lives are there for a reason at just the right place and time to help knock us on the right path. Regardless if it's a bruttal hit from behind or it's a bumper car that you've rubbed up against for a lifetime...it's still part of God's plan for your wild adventure.