Meet Me in St. Louis - Part Three

Ready for Part Three? After all, the best stories always come in threes, don’t they? Part One of this silly story was about my discovery that the writing workshop I was attending was in St. Louis and not Seward, NE. Part Two was about what I experienced on my flight to St. Louis. So without further ado, the much anticipated Part Three of Meet Me in St. Louis.

Ever since my adventures in St. Louis, I’ve realized something about myself. I am a worrier. Well, actually I’ve always realized this, but it became even more clear once I’d returned home from my travels. You see, while I was in St. Louis it was a step-by-step thing. I was already so overwhelmed by being there in the first place that I had to take it one moment at a time.

From the beginning of this crazy adventure, I leaned on God like I hadn’t for a long time. When I was still a swinging single, I was used to doing things on my own. I was much more independent with a “ready for anything” kind of attitude. That’s the way it was because that’s the way it had to be. Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, my boundaries and my carefree spirit have shrunk considerably. I feel secure in my home with my kids and the routine that I’ve established. A routine that is so familiar, so safe, so comfortable. Problem is, when I’m in my comfort zone, it’s easy to forget what it’s like to depend on God for everything.

So you might say that this trip gave me a little kick in the pants. That’s okay. It was a kick in the pants that I needed. Depending on God throughout this adventure was the only way I could deal with how overwhelmed I felt. And just to set the record straight - God did not disappoint.

When I got off the plane, I faced my first challenge – finding a cab. Turns out it was pretty easy. It doesn’t hurt that I have a husband who travels to St. Louis frequently. He gave me tips to make the journey as painless as possible. Things like writing down the address for the driver. Asking if he took credit cards. Yup, didn’t hurt that my hubby had gone this route a few times.

When I arrived on campus, my first task was to find a place to eat. Knowing nothing about the area, I thought it would be best to eat at the school’s cafeteria. Problem being, who would I sit by? I walked into the cafeteria praying for a place to sit that wouldn’t make me feel so conspicuous. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the seating area and looked around. There were several groups of people sitting together, but there was one man sitting alone. I felt a prompting to go sit by him, but the chicken in me didn’t want to take the risk. Then, aaaw, what the heck. I’m already way out of my comfort zone why not take another step? So I sat down across the table from him and introduced myself. While we made small talk, I couldn’t help noticing that he had a name tag on. Out of curiousity I asked him what he was on campus for. Even before he responded, I knew what he was going to say, he was here for the same faith and writing workshop that I was.

Coincidence? I think not. From then on, this pastor and I became friends. Since I had no idea how to get to the class, he led the way to the building and room where it was being held. Once we reached the classroom, he offered me the use of his extension cord which in my flurry of packing, I’d forgotten.

On the last night before the workshop ended, he told me a story. He had prayed to find a friend at the workshop - someone he could chat with, especially about writing. Turns out I was the answer to that prayer. Just think, if I hadn’t gone over and sat by him, the story would have turned out much differently.

From the moment I sat down for lunch next to a complete stranger, until I got back on that plane home, I did my best to following the promptings of God. And you know what? It was an amazing adventure. From finding this little café a block away from campus where they made a mean fruit and yogurt parfait (fresh mint in it – remarkable), to sitting next to one of the sweetest woman I’ve ever known, to getting the chance to visit an amazing family that I’ve known for many years; God provided. And the thing is, I could relax because God being God, I didn’t need to worry that he wouldn’t take care of my needs.

You know what I discovered - the really cool part of the whole trip? God was as faithful then as he’d been when I was single. And it made me wonder - how had I managed to forget this one important fact; that God is faithful. My theory? I don’t need God in the everyday, ordinary things of life. I’m in control. I get through my days just fine on my own. No help needed.

Only problem is, that’s not exactly true. It doesn’t matter if I’m sitting in a Faith and Writing Workshop in St. Louis, or cooking dinner in my small town Nebraska home - God is always God. And, whether I recognize it or not, God is faithful. Always. Everyday. No matter what.

So I’ll wrap up my trilogy here. The biggest lesson I learned from this whole experience? Just because I know my way around town, or get all my food needs met at the grocery store, or live the same routine day after day doesn’t mean God isn’t working wonders in my life. And it’s not his fault if I fail to recognize them for what they are. So, maybe I’ll step out of my comfort zone a little more realizing that God is working his “little miracles” in my life everyday. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll remember to be oh-so-grateful that he is.

Bratty and Whiny

Reading a new book called The Story.  In it excerpts of the NIV are carefully crafted together to tell one of the greatest stories of all time.  Really, really interesting to read.  What's come across to me so far is how bratty and whiny the Israelites were.  No matter what they had, it was never enough, never the right thing, never the right time.

The story unfolds with one of their forefathers, Abraham.  God makes great and wonderful promises to him, promises like "through your offspring all nations will be blessed".  And when, by God's leading, Abraham travels to a strange and distant land, God makes a great and wonderful promise once again.  He tells Abraham that someday his descendants will posess this land - a land flowing with milk and honey.  In turn, God promises the same to Issac, Abraham's son, and to Jacob, Abraham's grandson.  With all these promises the nation of Israel is completely confident that God is able to do what he says he will do, right?  Well, not exactly.

Flash forward a few hundred years.  Abraham's descendants are now in  Egypt where they are being mistreated and abused as slaves.  When they cry out for deliverance, God, being the almighty and loving One, hears their cries of distress.  What does he do ?  He acts.  He intervenes.  After all, that's what he promised Abraham, and Issac, and Jacob he would do.  God delivers the Israelites from slavery to go to the land that he once promised to their ancestors. 

Through Moses, their leader, God does amazing things - things never seen before.  He sends plague upon plague to the Egyptians until they practically beg the Israelites to leave.  The Egyptians even load them down with some of their own posessions giving Israel plunder to carry away.  Then, when Pharoah changes his heart and decides to chase after the Israelites, God intervenes with an act that will never be forgotten.  The Red Sea parts.  The Israelites pass through unharmed. But when the Egyptians pursue them the waters crash back together.  Pharoah and all his army are destroyed. 

Just like that the Israelites have experienced the mighty deliverance of God.  So you would think they would be bursting with thankfulness, full of faith, hope, love.   But, after a few weeks, they do what comes natural to most of us - they complain.    They don't have any water.  They don't have food. Why did Moses bring them into the desert - a place where they could starve to death or die of thirst?  They were better off in Egypt, or so they say.   Just three short days after they'd  come safely through the Red Sea, this is how they act.

For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.  When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter.  So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"  Exodus 15:22-23

Long story short, God provides the water they were crying out for.  Finally, at last, they believe that God is with them.  He is their protector.  He will guide.  He will provide.  And, if they doubt God's guidance, they need only raise their eyes to the horizon.  God's very presence is with them every step of the way -  pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night.   Unfortunately, that's not the way it happens:

On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.  In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt!  There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into the desert to starve this entire assembly to death.  Exodus 16:1-3

Are you kidding me? Really?  Hadn't God provided for them thus far in miraculous ways.  What did they have to worry about?  What did they have to complain about?  But those Israelites were stubborn, hard headed.  They complained about everything;  their circumstances, their situation.  You name it, they complained about it.  There wasn't enough food.  It wasn't the right kind.  They were without water, or the water didn't taste good.  And, as if that weren't enough, when they weren't complaining they were crafting golden calves to worship and bow down to.  What was their problem? 

Yea, those Israelites really had some trust issues.  But when I really stop and think about it, it reminds me of someone else I know.  Me.  I worry about this, I worry about that.  I don't have enough of this, or I have too much of that.  It's rainy when I want it to be sunny.  It's sunny when I want it to be rainy. 

 I can think back to all the times God's provided for me, delivered me, given me my daily bread.  Yet I find myself getting worked up about so much.  God's never lacking in love, so why do I freak out?  The Israelites had their issues, but, sad to say, I can be as bratty as the best of them. 

Well, I'd like to say that in the end the nation of Israel learns their lesson.  But they don't.  Just before God leads them in to take possession of the land he promised to Abraham this is what he has to say to those bratty, whiny, Israelites

During the forty years that I led your through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet . . .  I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.

Just because they didn't learn their lesson doesn't mean I can't or that you can't.   The next time you're tempted to worry or be anxious about something, stop and think long and hard about those Israelites.   God may not be guiding you by a pillar of cloud or a big ring of fire, but he's certainly proven himself to be worthy of our trust.  The moral of the story?  Learn to be thankful, not anxious.  And, the next time you're tempted to complain about something, think about those Israelites.  Determine to rise above all the whinyness and bratiness that they could never seem to get over.