Waiting

I tend to over pack when I travel, and this was the case once again as Ben and I prepared for a five day trip to Dallas for a training conference. I like options, so it's hard for me to choose just the amount of items needed for an event, be it five outfits for five days, or two books for a two hour flight. (This WILL not be the case come May when we go to Ghana!) My carry on was loaded with entertainment options for our short flight-and I'm happy to say that I ended up using most of them! One acted as the gateway to the others, and it was my least anticipated resource.

'Worldwide Challenge' is the magazine put out by our organization, Campus Crusade for Christ. Its writers and photographers travel around the world to capture stories of what God is doing through a great number of ministries and individuals. Though I love reading magazines for recreation, I am rarely inclined to pick this one up at home. I usually move toward 'Real Simple' or something I can get good recipes or housekeeping ideas from. So I thought I might actually read it on the airplane-and I'm glad I made room for it!

Many of the articles challenged me to open my Bible and reflect on the messages myself. I pulled out my journal to scribble things God was showing me about about my own faith and journey with Him. An article that particularly struck me was one about waiting. I tend to jump ahead to whatever is next in life and neglect to just be where I am. I'll just end by sharing a thought from the author.

"Having to wait requires me to feel the depth of my need and my inability to do things alone. Having to wait exposes upon whom I trust and depend. Having to wait allows for growth, maturity, and, sometimes, the opportunity to savor things I could only enjoy at that unique time. Considering how I usually respond to seasons of longing, I overlook those benefits. Instead I have moments of obsessive focus on what I don't have, angry complaining, frantic comparisons. Basically, I become self-absorbed." -Author Sarah Martin

Check out the latest stories @ http://worldwidechallenge.org/magazine