"Only Three Weeks"

As soon as she walked in the church door, my friend gave me a hug. "Aww, this is your last Sunday here!" she cried. "I'm going to miss you!" A bit perplexed, I returned the sentiment, but then added, "It's only three weeks."

Only three weeks.

For the rest of the day, I found myself repeating that phrase to many other friends as I said my goodbyes.

That time of year has sneaked up on us faster than ever before. That time of year is referring to mid-May, when my family has been able to lead a mission team to Bangalore, India, for the past three years. This will be our fourth trip, but so many factors will be different this time. Firstly, our time will be shorter. Instead of a four-week trip, we will have only three weeks to complete our variety of ministry activities. Secondly, we are trying to do much more than we ever have- in a shorter period of time. Thirdly, many sudden changes of plans have rendered us virtually incapable of knowing what to expect.

All these factors, combined with the business of the day-to-day busy school and work schedules, have made this year feel most sudden. Honestly, I am still having a hard time making myself believe that in only two days we will be landing in Bangalore.

Yet today, God began stirring in my heart a question. Why is it that I choose to describe this trip as "only three weeks"? Why am I discouraging the excitement of my friends and church family with this belittling phrase?

Somehow, in the midst of frustration and preparation, I had come to see this trip as just that- a short time crowded with much work. A trip full of one event after the other with little sleep in between. A trip where we wouldn't have the time to develop relationships and connect with the church like we had before.

But God kept pressing one challenge on my heart:
"Is my hand shortened, that I cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?" [Isaiah 50:2]

Though we have planned and purposed, few of those plans seem to be working out. In the midst of my confusion, I forget that He is the One who is directing our steps. He WILL work for the glory of His name and His Kingdom. Though I struggle with lacking eyes of faith, His Kingdom purposes will be accomplished. When His word goes out, it will not return void. No matter how unprepared and weak we His vessels feel, He is pleased to use such feeble people as us to labor for His Kingdom.

Lord, restore to me the eyes of faith. Keep me from seeing this trip as "only three weeks."

May we be joyful prayer as we anticipate these three weeks of seeing God at work in the nation on India!

Once more...

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The sound of the buzzer pierced the air as the scores of fans alongside me leaped up screaming with happiness. Butler had won! The Bulldogs were headed to the Championship! Hinkle Fieldhouse was indeed alive and celebrating the victory. My sisters and I had come to join the mass of fans at the viewing party. It was indeed a thrilling evening; the Fieldhouse was packed with people, and the time-outs and breaks were set up to make one feel that this was the actual game we were experiencing. Earlier, I was hesitating in my decision to go, but I certainly do not regret it now. It is so fun to see all of Indianapolis- and even Indiana overall- rally together to support this one team from this tiny school. And for the second year in a row, the Bulldogs have a chance at winning the championship.

~*~

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

In total contrast to Saturday, the cheering at Hinkle Fieldhouse was subdued. Three minutes to go, and the earlier frenzied noise of the substantial crowd had died down to a few half-hearted cheers. Three minutes to go, and the Butler Bulldogs trailed the U-Conn Huskies by thirteen points. I scanned the crowd and saw the solemn looks of resignation all around me. When many people began gathering their belongings and leaving the fieldhouse, we had to face the sad truth. The Bulldogs were going to lose the NCAA Championship game for the second year in a row.

The Bulldogs knew it too. After perhaps their worst night full of mistakes, they could not recover. Unlike last year, they did not even have the comfort of knowing that they played a good game. The looks on their faces from the plasma screen were heart-rending. I just kept thinking to myself, “If we are this disappointed, I cannot imagine how they feel right now.”

News articles this morning confirmed that thought. Reports poured in, telling of their breakdowns in the locker room after the game. Just reading about it brought tears to my eyes. And yet, I was moved by the stories that told of the clarity that moment brought to them: it was truly not about winning, or even ultimately how they played last night. Though the scars remain, what really mattered is that they were a team, a unit that loved and cared about each other.

I could empathize with that realization. Here I was, getting caught up in the defeat of my favorite basketball team. As sad as it was, it reminded me how small this event is in the grand spectrum of life. Yes, it was disappointing, but there are far greater and more glorious things in life than a basketball game. There are far more things worthy of focusing my time and mental energy on. Lord, thank You for using this game to remind me, as You did last year at this time, to invest my heart in what truly matters. Teach me to lay up incorruptible treasure in heaven.

“...They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:25

Inception.

Imagine.

Imagine that the world around you is not true reality.

This is a concept that has been pondered and explored over and over through literature and film. But the 2010 box office hit movie Inception puts a slightly different spin on the issue-

What if the world around you was actually a dream cleverly designed by someone else? What if you could create a dream for others, travel inside it and plant an idea in their minds?

In a fascinating plot of dreams and reality, protagonist Dom Cobb is a professional “extractor”- essentially a thief who steals ideas from the dreams of brilliant businessmen before they have a chance to act on those ideas. The film's main plot begins when Cobb is offered an even riskier job- inception, the planting of an idea in another's mind via dreams. Along the way he assembles a team of brilliant dream-thieves, encounters unexpected mental bulwarks and struggles with his unfulfilled desire to leave his work behind and return home to his two motherless children.

I had heard many great reviews on this movie, but this weekend I was finally able to watch it and appraise it myself. Honestly, I was not expecting to like it because I had heard it was thoroughly confusing. But surprisingly, Inception's clever plot and unique twists blew me away! I truly enjoyed every minute of the movie. The mental challenge of the concepts was both stretching and fun. It was definitely not a typical science-fiction movie. In fact, I found it to be more artsy and emotional, qualities that I enjoy in a movie.

However, as I thought about it further, I noticed that I have had a greater interest in fantasy books and movies lately. There is nothing wrong with fantasy, in and of itself, but it too often seems like an escape from reality. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Satan often likes to make us think that fantasy is better than reality. This is why it is so crucial to analyze the message of movies like Inception, which question whether reality is better than the dream. For some (like me), tuning out of life's difficulties and turning to fantasy can be a great temptation. As I pondered this temptation, God brought Psalm 4:2-3 to my mind-

“O men... How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.”

I love this passage because it gives the reason for turning aside from vain lies- the LORD has set apart me apart for Himself. He hears me when I call to Him. He desires an intimate relationship with me. This is reality, and it is beautiful, indeed, far more beautiful than any fantasy world you could ever think of! Lord Jesus, keep me from the love of vain lies. Show me the beauty of reality in the gospel. Help me to embrace that awesome truth of Your love.