Embracing the Struggle

My wife and I, the past couple of weeks, have really been in a place of struggle. We are struggling with the idea of where God is leading us. We have 2 more weeks of school and then the summer: Hallelujah!!!! But with that, there is also a cloud of unknown hanging over us. With the school closing we have been searching and pursuing for 'what's next?' And we really don't know....which isn't all that bad, but every now and again it really tests our dependance and trust. It's a good thing that our lives are in the hands of the Potter, who already knows where my bride and I will be serving.

We have engraved on our wedding bands "two hearts set on pilgrimage" and it is real fitting that our first year of marriage has really felt like a pilgrimage. It's been a pilgrimage where we've been beat up and worn down, and haven't necessarily seen the fruit of our labor, but it's also been a pilgrimage of seeing Christ draw us closer to eachother and to Himself. So, it's at this time, this place of unknown, that we need to heed the message engraved, journey the pilgrimage and embrace the struggle.......................


Yesterday I traveled to the local book establishment, Borders, to pick up a book that was part of the application requirement for a Seminary that I'm applying for. On my way in, after locking up my bike, a gentleman outside the store asked if I could spare some change. I gave him the token answer of "Maybe on my way out". So, after purchasing the book and another one (impulsive spending from my dad) I made my way out the door. I decided to stop by the gentleman to talk with him. I sat by him on the bench and began a conversation. Through it all, we talked about the Bulls and what they need to do in the off season to get over the hump in the Playoffs. He had some great insight and I couldn't agree with more about what the Bulls need. We exchanged names and wished eachother a great rest of the day. As I was leaving he mentioned to me that he really appreciated the fact that I spent time simply talking with him. I was proud and yet humbled at the same time. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. I just didn't pass him up for the sake of inconvenience. On my way home, I was struck and convicted about how often I go through my day on a time schedule and don't simply take time to talk with people. Maybe Dino, the guy outside Borders, was used to teach me a lesson of simply putting my time on hold for the sake of someone else.