Useful Uselessness

Ok. So I was again thinking about what Costa Rica is going to be like and all the random stuff to do in prep and when I get there. And then it struck me. What good is going to be accomplished by me going? I know that I can "help out" but I am pretty sure that the church down there will be fine if I never show up. And what about things such as teaching, leading devos, and other such "ministering" jobs? Overall I'm not very good at those. I know my dad will just say that's because I haven't had much practice at it but regardless. So I was thinking, what can an outsider to the culture truly hope to accomplish? I realized the answer somewhat quick. Nothing. I truly can hope to accomplish nothing. All I am doing is going down there for a few weeks, learning some Spanish, and hanging out with the church, then I'll leave and all of the people there when I got there will most likely still be there.

As I thought about it though, that's the best thing. I can hope to accomplish nothing because truly, God should be the one to accomplish everything. Way easier said than done though... However, a very reasonable thought. Overall, it is always God who uses the situations to the furthering of his Kingdom. In fact, it is better for him if I start off as useless, because then I am not set with ideas of my own glory but with hopes for his. It's as if God wanted to make a rocking chair out of me. If I have pride in my own ability and strength and feel that I can do it on my own, I'll make myself into a chair but it will be a stiff chair that does not rock. For God to use that, he has to first take me apart (which is no fun...) and then finally he can make me into what he wants me to be. So it is better to start off as a pile of wood, useless at the moment but with immense potential to be formed into something so much greater. After all, Jesus called fishermen. Even in our culture, fishermen are seen as dudes chillin by the lake with a stick. It's something you do in your off time if you're lucky (i.e. I just cast and not actually fish...) but these guys did it for a living. But these are the one whom Jesus called to carry on a reformation movement, of the heart and the way that people live.

So I dare you, be a pile of wood. Let God fashion you in due time. Don't try to rush into something by your own wisdom or strength, it doesn't work. We often quote Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you." Regardless of whether we use it in context, it's still a valuable lesson. God already has a plan. Don't mess it up with yours. Give him the reins. He's a better driver than you anyways.

What's the Point?

So in about three weeks I ship out for Costa Rica. I am psyched out of my mind! The experience is gonna be great between working with a church, playing street soccer and volleyball, hopefully a whitewater rafting trip, language school, and the food. O my... I can't wait. But the more I think about it, the more I realize I don't really know what I am going to be doing. Sure, I'll be shadowing the minister there, working with the youth but I don't know truly how or what my roles will be. The more I contemplate on what that means, the more I think it's a good thing.

If I go in with expectations, I am limited. I will try to form experiences to what I think they should be like. In short, I place the limitless God in a bind as he now has to rock my world from my tunnel vision. So instead, I am (trying) to go in with no expectations. With no expectations, everything that happens becomes a plus. Everything has potential for me to learn. There are things that I want to accomplish while I am there but I am really trying to leave my mind open. I mean so much can happen in two months there's no way I can see it all from here, so why even bother?

So basically if you are doing something this summer that you've never done before, or even something that you have done, try not to limit what God can teach you. Leave your heart and mind open and I guarantee you that he will fill it.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." -prov 3:5-6