A Cup of Grace – with a shot of espresso

I began the following post a couple of years ago, before I started this blog. (Woody and Stella have since passed.) The object lesson I saw was clear, but I didn’t know when I would share it. So, I wrote it down in order to not forget. Now, I find that the lesson is ripe in my own life. 

We live a bit out in the country with three Labrador Retrievers.  In spite of being out of town, we still are not able to generally just let our dogs roam.  Crossing busy roads is a real threat to their survival, and, honestly, I’m not sure at least two of them wouldn’t go home with just about anybody. So we invested in an in ground fence.  If you’re not familiar with these, these are underground electric fences.  The dog wears a collar that emits a beep if it gets too close and a shock if it crosses.  Our dogs learned the fence in a very short period of time.  As a result, they have the pleasure of the entire backyard and a portion of the front yard whenever they would like without supervision. 

But labs are high energy animals, and the more exercise they get, the better pets they make. So, I take them on frequent walks on the back of our property.  This area, however, is beyond the bounds of their fence.

They know the signs of an impending walk, and soon they are all dancing around my feet – eager to go.  There are smells to smelled, dirt to be rolled in, possibly even rabbits to chase, and they cannot wait! They nearly knock me over in their enthusiasm. One by one I remove the collars that keep them in the boundaries of the fence, and off they dash to the back of the yard where the walk begins.  However, they pause as they come to the boundary where the fence lies hidden.  They wait. They look at me.  “OK!” I give the command, and they dash across, off into the freedom of the path around the back of the property. All except Woody.

Woody is our yellow lab.  He’s between the other two in age.  Though his mother and niece are excellent hunters, hunting was just never his thing.  He is much more interested in fitting all 90 pounds of himself onto your lap. Woody, looks at me again – double checking.  Sometimes I have to give him the all clear two or three times before he takes the leap of faith in spite of the fact that we have performed this process probably hundreds of times. I have, at times, come back and walked next to him as he crosses the invisible barrier. This time, I keep walking.  I call back to him and wait.  He dances back and forth on his front paws but just won’t commit. I call again.  He sits down and looks at me.  For some reason, this time is different.  I keep walking to see what will happen. 

When the other dogs and I return, Woody is still sitting there looking as if he would have very much liked to have gone. I shake my head. “Why didn’t you trust me?” He wags his tail and follows me back to the house. He’ll get another chance, but he missed this one. 

By the time you read this, I will be in Honduras serving with Global Health Outreach on a short term medical mission trip. I’ve been on several of these over the years. I’ve traveled to Ecuador, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. This will be my first trip to Honduras, and though I know the drill, I am still nervous. 

If you are a doctor or a dentist or physical therapist, etc. on these trips, your job is pretty clear. However, I’m not medical, so I may fill any number of support positions. I have washed dental instruments, directed the flow of human traffic, and counted pills in the pharmacy. This time I will be part of the children’s ministry. 

What I like best, though, often happens when we are “off duty.” I love to nurture our team and encourage them in their walks with Christ. (I am naturally more drawn to the women in the group.) This is my comfort zone. It’s easier for at least two reasons – no language barrier, and teaching/coaching is something I almost can’t turn off. I also know that this is an important part of the trip. 

Missions trips frequently have a deep impact on those who go. We seem to hear God best when we are out of our routines. We also are spending time in worship and prayer with each other daily, and that seems to break down barriers more quickly. I like to be a part of that, but God doesn’t only call us in our strengths. 

While we are in clinic, the in-country churches we are working with are busy sharing the gospel and counseling patients. However, if one of us has the opportunity to share the gospel, we often do via our interpreters. But here’s the uncomfortable truth about me: I am reluctant to do so. 

I’m so much like Woody in this moment. I want to, but something holds me back. Inwardly, I am dancing about nervously, like he was, just on the edge of the line. I can’t even give you a good reason why. There’s just a deep hesitancy that isn’t there when I’m mentoring others. Yet, this is the most important part of our trip, and if the Holy Spirit opens the door, I want to walk through.

I know that God can use my strengths to honor Him, but I also know that He is just as likely to use my weaknesses. Like Woody’s relationship with me, I run to God for affection and protection.  I feel like I have a good, strong relationship with Him. Then, He calls me to something beyond my normal boundaries.  I don’t know what’s out there. I can’t see very far ahead.  I might get hurt or look foolish.  But, He whispers, “Do you really believe that you’re better off just right here?” 

Leaving  what we know makes us uncomfortable at best. Sometimes, God holds our hands as we cross, but sometimes, He just calls.  “Will you trust Me?” Like Woody, we dance back and forth in our fear and indecision. This feels big.  We do nothing.  God completes His plan without us. He comes back, and we hear others talk about what He did, and we missed it.  We are still His.  He loves us no less, but we missed whatever He wanted to show us.  We missed an opportunity to grow because we were afraid of being uncomfortable. 

What invisible barrier is God calling you across? What adventure has He invited you to join? Going on short term missions? Teaching a Sunday School class? Fostering a child? Writing a blog? Reaching out to form a new friendship? Giving more generously than you feel comfortable with? Sharing the gospel? I don’t know what adventure He has called you to, but I do know that He is calling each of us to trust Him. I also know that I don’t really want to miss out. 

So this is my prayer as I prepare for this trip. Feel free to echo it both on my behalf and, perhaps, on your own as well. Father, help me to hear Your call and, trusting You, obey. I know You will equip me. I don’t want to miss what You are doing. Take my strengths and my weaknesses, and use them for Your glory – Amen.