In about a week from now, I will be in Malaysia with CRM. It’s gonna be an exciting time to be sure, as I can’t wait to connect with people from all over the world who are ministering with CRM in so many different contexts. But along with my excitement comes a bit of anxiety . . .
Even though I’ve traveled internationally many a time, there are the usual pre-trip jitters: do I have everything I need? And if I do, will I actually remember to pack it? Man, my traveling buddy Rebecca and I have a bunch of connecting flights . . . I sure hope we make them all!!
Then, there are some new feelings: what will all these new people from CRM be like? Will I understand their callings and ministries, and will they understand mine, which is still taking shape?
So, there are some thoughts. There is so much to do to get ready for this trip, and much of it has more to do with preparing my heart than preparing my luggage. For this and other reasons, this is a hurried time of life. One of my favorite guides on the road of life is author John Ortberg, who once called his friend and mentor Dallas Willard for guidance on spiritual growth. When asked what one must do to continue their development, and after a long pause, he replied, “Be ruthless with eliminating hurry from your life.” Somewhat satisfied with Willard’s response, he asked what other strategies could be employed. After another repose came, “There is nothing else.”
In my busyness, I have tried with only marginal success to take part in reading Willard’s “The Divine Conspiracy” with some others in NieuCommunities. I can stand to learn much about resting in Christ, and how that kind of rest can complement a life of hard work, shaping such a life as Willard’s. The other night, as four of us were debriefing after having done the Birkman Personality Test as a community (yes, 20 or so of us – it was hectic), my roommate Nick mentioned how I ‘was always working on something’. I agreed, and recognized how much ground I am trying to cover in this season of change in my life. Too much at times, perhaps. I mean, it’s 12:15 in the morning as I write this.
Hard as it may be to understand as being possible in this age of frantic activity, it is my prayer that we all could grow in learning to find time to rest.
