Archive for November, 2009

No Problem

Friday, November 20th, 2009

This fall, I had the privilege of spending 5 1/2 weeks in Zambia. I visited GEMS Clubs, interviewed some of the precious children who will benefit from The Esther School, and helped out with Hand ‘n Hand. The following is a post from my personal blog on October 28th.

I love the start of my days here. I get up, open the windows in the front room, make some tea and then journal and read as I bask in the still silence of the morning.

Yesterday, that quiet was disturbed by the shrill rattle of someone pounding on our gate. I dragged myself out of my chair in order to investigate. An older woman was standing outside with a giant bag of potholders balanced on her head. It was almost 7:30, and apparently this was her second trip to the Service Center so far this morning. She had stopped by at 6, but the guard had informed her she needed to come back later.

She explained that she had an appointment. One of our local staff members had instructed her to meet her here by 8am. Hmm. That’s funny, I thought. No one from the staff is here yet. I made a few phone calls and apologetically explained to the woman that she would have to come back after 10. “No problem,” she said through a big, toothy grin.

No problem. I contemplated that as I turned to go back inside. We hear that a lot here. In fact, it’s probably the most common response we receive to any given request. And they’re not just saying it, either.

Shortly after 10, the lady returned for a third time. Without the slightest hint of annoyance at having been inconvenienced, she discussed a few questions with the staff before plopping down on the cold tile floor to chat with the other women as she sewed.

No problem. And it really wasn’t a problem. I’m sure she had plenty of other things she could have been doing, but she didn’t complain. It didn’t rile her up at all to have to make three trips – on foot – to the Service Center even though staff had told her they would be there to meet her first thing in the morning.

I’m not saying I’m going to start breaking appointments on a whim once I come home, but the whole mindset continues to fascinate me.

Which brings me to today. Today was a day set aside to do work. Today I wasn’t going to leave the Service Center because I had so much editing to do. Today I was going to get things done. Today was also the day the power went out and didn’t come back on for six hours. Today was the day both of my computer batteries were dead by 11am. Today I felt stranded and bored. And today was the perfect day to practice the outlook I have so often observed in the past month.

So, in the end, I discovered that despite the obstacles, all I needed was a slight attitude adjustment and, voilà, today really was no problem.

Posted in Miscellaneous, The Call to Africa | No Comments »

Be Clear Minded

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Many things can fog the brain. After making a mistake in her transaction, a grocery store clerk told me that her brother-in-law passed away a week ago and she’s been struggling. “I start and end projects, but keep finding myself missing key steps in the middle.” Exhaustion, parenting, and yes, even the pregnancy that preludes parenting, also impact mental function and concentration. Older friends joke how they enter a room of their home, forget what they went in there to do, and turn around, clueless. We laugh at our shared experience and blame our fogged thinking to age and overload.

If you’re feeling a bit foggy upstairs, it’s time to clear the head. Not so you can figure things out, but so you can pray! Prayer requires a clear mind. The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so you can pray (1 Peter 4:7).

The end of all things is near. Jesus Christ died, rose, and ascended. The Holy Spirit was outpoured at Pentecost. Therefore Jesus could return at any time. Maybe today. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here (Romans 13:11b-12a).

Understanding Jesus’ imminent arrival, we must be clear minded, be in a right state of mind, have sober judgment, and be self-controlled so that we can pray.

As a child when I kept replaying my thoughts aloud my mom would tell me I sounded like a broken record. Although broken records are a thing of the past, we’re all familiar with recurring thoughts – especially replaying worrisome circumstances in our minds.

King David prayed, Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind (Psalm 26:2). Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23).

Examine us, O God! Where there is anxiety and worry, we ask for forgiveness. Where there is muddled thinking, clear the way to Your truth. Where there is fog due to grief, overload, and confusion, break it free with Your comfort, peace, and plan. Clear our minds and fix our thoughts directly on You so we can pray.

Prayer Step: The end of all things is near. Be clear minded and stay wide-awake in prayer today.

I love the thought of needing a clear mind to pray. So often people just get all wordy and religious. You don’t need a clear mind for that. But listening and putting together God’s Word in the ways He shows us – that takes some mental ability.
Jan Kempe

Posted in Faith | No Comments »