Still Learning

It's been a bit of a rough week. I feel as if someone mistakenly enrolled me in the "How To Get Closer To God in One Short Week" class. Apparently, the syllabus for this class requires you to undergo intense experiences which offer no other alternative than collapsing at the feet of the Father in desperation.

OK, maybe that's just real life, and I'm experiencing it in spades this week. Of course, I've already told you about our experience with the adjuster, and we haven't heard back from him yet. I don't really expect to until next week sometime. So, I'm at peace with that one.

Then I had a pretty intense falling out with a friend. I was really hurt by an accusation that was made and worried myself sick over it for two days. God really confronted me with all I've learned about forgiveness in the past. Papa always uses these opportunities to remind me of the ways in which I have committed the same offense in our relationship and how He has forgiven me. I can never hold on to my hurt and anger after that. My friend and I have reconciled, for which I think both of us are relieved and glad.

I'm still dealing with the third scenario - no money. I keep praying that my Father will go ahead and show us some sunlight in that darkened corner, but He hasn't cracked the blinds yet. I'm still on my knees for that one.

Overall, it's been a difficult week, but it's also been wonderful. Perhaps I should categorize it as wonderfully difficult? You know, sometimes we need those tough experiences to refocus our attention right where it needs to be - on God. I tend to get into "handle things" mode, and I sometimes forget to factor God into the equation properly.

Remember math - way back in school when you were doing Algebra? Do remember the phrase Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally? You used it when you had to work out those complex equations, and it stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, and Subtract. You know, if you didn't follow the order of operations, the answer came out completely wrong. It was so frustrating to work for ages, and still have the answer be utterly incorrect.

It kind of works that way with God. If we don't do things in the right order - talk to God, then follow His instructions, everything comes out wrong and life gets absolutely frustrating. Really, I don't know why I cannot seem to get that order of operation correct - there are only 2 steps, after all.

So, as I step out of this week and start planning for next, I am looking forward to my first trip to St. Bernard Parish. We are going to be there for a couple of days next week to meet with the pastor, let me have a look around town, and just try to get more direction. On this one, we definitely had the order of operation correct. Father told us explicitly that a visit to the area is our next step.

Well, that was my week in a nutshell. And what is the moral of this convoluted story? I suppose that if I had to nail it to a wall, it would be this: stay sensitive to Papa's voice in every aspect of your life regardless of how inconsequential it may seem at the time. You never know when a word from Him will change your approach to a situation and completely save the outcome.

Blessings!