Finding the Rhythm...

Things are settling down. I have a job and a house and 2 cars. We are establishing some new friendships. It is no longer storming, but still we wait in hope.

The workings of the states still frustrates me. People have so much yet still are not happy. The focus on comfort and coolness that pervades even the church itself is chilling. I find it hard to relate anymore and my experiences from Guatemala seem beyond understanding for most. We as Americans focus our "rights" and set our "boundaries" on such meaningless things at the cost of the things that matter most. Fear and paranoia rule, keeping people from reaching out to the hurting. Safety, protection, caution are on all sides. We prayed for some people being sent out from our church, "above all, keep them safe" rather than "above all, make their efforts effective for the gospel". I just find myself having difficulty finding the rhythm of the USA culture, having become accustomed to a different drumbeat. The things that matter to me most now, are not the most important to those around me. And what they find very important, I don't anymore. I believe that safety, saving, and caring for your things are noble but not at the cost of showing love to one another so the world will know that we are the Lords.

We are not believers to have a "better" or "easier" life. We are believers to find reconciliation with God.

I have been pondering Job lately. The message of Job to me these weeks have been one of the character and nature of God. He, simply stated, is God and whatever his character might be does not change the fact that he still is God and what I think about his actions or tactics are irrelevant.

This is not to say that God is not good. This is only to say that I was created for his purposes of revealing his character. If the portion of his character he wants to reveal requires my demise or suffering then I still would have no complaint I could file. I will fill my role. I have no "rights" with my creator. He has every right to do with me as he wishes. This has brought me a lot of peace.

I hope that our constant blessing and praising God in the midst of trials will bring us blessing but I understand that it is not required. For us to endure trials well does not entitle us to blessings, it only means that God wished to reveal his greatness in grace by how he allowed us to endure the difficulties. Our difficulties brought glory to him which is our created purpose. He is not required to do anything for us. Lk 17:10

My perspective has changed. I am struggling, not just with readapting to the US culture but also with whether I should readapt to it to begin with. There is a balance of what to keep and what not to that I am starting to find. I am finding the rhythm but keeping a few of my "off" beats to give a little extra spice to the music.