As I hurriedly and late like a whirl wind headed out our garden gate... our friend's excited dog's blubber and spit spatted slimy wet lines across my new blue shirt's back.... this was the last straw on the camel's back. I uttered a frustrated scream and ran back into the house so my husband could quickly wipe it off.
I chose to sit at an open window in the humid hot mini bus as it descended down the hill into the city. Slowly sipping my morning coffee from a travel mug I pondered over the events of the last few weeks. It felt like wave upon wave of trials and difficulty hitting my being. I felt drained, tiered and in need to receive prayer.
The cool refreshing morning breeze blew in my face as I turned to catch it full on.... breathing it in as my soul was churning and turning. I chose to bring the rumblings of my heart to Him.....
"I want you to be an encouragement this morning Karin. As you give to others I will give to you." I felt Him forming the words in my heart. I squinted and then closed my eyes as these words sank to the depth of my soul embracing the truth and love of what it says. "Lord I feel so tiered and overwhelmed with my own life... I have nothing to give at church today!" I responded in desperation and honesty.
I remembered a man visiting from Afghanistan sharing from his life how it was on the m field that he learned to walk with God. Not an easy thing and possibly not the best place to learn a lesson like that. But He works in mysterious ways to draw our hearts and souls towards Him.
I looked around the mini bus and saw a grandfather lovingly holding his grandson on his lap...
A man gently taking his wife's hand as he carefully helped her getting of the minibus....
Hearing a cellphone conversation behind me. "We will be there now, we are almost getting off." Then I hear him saying to his son sitting next to him. "It's your mother she is waiting on the corner for us."
I looked out the window and saw the usual stray dogs laying in the welcoming shade on the grass in the park. One dog was eagerly drinking water from an open hose laying in the dirt.
I watched as the mini bus driver smilingly didn't want to except money from his friend paying for the trip.
Looking out up onto the beauty of a tree growing strong and green into the turquoise sky in a dry barren park.
Staring at a couple sitting in front of me tightly shoulder to shoulder...
Noticing the beautiful happy, colorful faces of the flowers growing on the middle man in the depth of the industrial area of the city.
Smiling at the two deserted goats tied with a rope to a fence...
By the time I entered the iron doors of the little church in the Red Light district my heart was touched by beauty. During worship I saw myself barely keeping my head above the water the last few weeks as the waves of life came and broke over me hitting one by one..... But He showed me the picture where the waves kept coming but as it hit I jumped out and up into the wave with my hands and face raised upwards.... taking the waves with joy, hope, perseverance and endurance.
Yes, as I give to others He will give to me....
