Making Something Beautiful from Unity that Comes from Him…

An entry written by Jennifer this morning…

As the rooster crows outside my room and the faint sound of the neighboring rooster responds back, I take inventory of my heart.  It’s still early, just before 5 am and our first full day in Arjo, our village.  Today is a new day and all of the preparations I have worked on so carefully and so diligently, with the help of my friends, are finished.  The season of preparing is over and implementation is on us.  Our team is ready for showtime.  Supplies for the kids, dresses for the mamas, little pillowcase dresses, solar lights, the story of Jesus and hope, shoes and so much more.

My heart check reveals some anxiety.  This part of the journey is not as easily controlled by me.  There is a dance of cooperation which God intended to be beautiful, that must come together for two cultures.  When I remember we both have a desire to be kind and gentle and helpful, we both can accomplish many tasks , we both only want good…it helps me to not take offense as easily because our social rules are different even though our heart intentions are the same.  We often are just different in our approach.  Not bad, not good, just different.  Apples and oranges.  When an orange and apple are smashed together being held by two fists, one only gets bruised fruit.  When carefully washed, chopped and placed in a bowl, fruit salad and a pleasing treat is found.  The delicate dance of cooperation brings beauty.

As I ask God, “What do I do with this anxious heart?”  A heart that desires His plan and to join what He’s already doing.  I hear him quietly in my mind…”Bring it to the table.  Remember, blessing the village is about what they need and also what they want help with.  Set down the rigidity of your agenda and place it on the table to pray over together, to review together and prepare carefully in a spirit of teamwork the same way you would carefully step by step make fruit salad.  And I will add the whipped cream.”  That made me smile.  He cares about the details way more than me.  He adds the blessing and the impact that will come.  He prepares hearts.  This is after all His salad as He created all of us.  It’s not shocking that some tears roll down my face and I feel thankful.  He is still growing me.  I still have the ability to learn.

Heart check.  What are you struggling with?  Have you asked Him to show you how to work with unity with others around you?  Even within a culture there are a variety of personalities, lifestyle choices and strong differing opinions.  Ask God to show you how to make something beautiful with unity that only comes from Him and us humbly laying down our own plans.  We are not striving to be the same.  Striving to have unity with differences to produce beauty.

Praying for my friends at home and all who may need a fresh peace today.

And the rooster crows again.