"So we beat on, boats against the current…" – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Macedonia – the nation with the most monuments I have seen in such a short distance of each other, cheap chocolate spread and a beautiful lake named Ohrid. This lake is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe. We had the privilege of visiting this lake on Monday.
Starting my journey in Macedonia was like getting into a little boat on Lake Ohrid with my own pair of wooden carved paddles. Ready for this adventure with Jesus. I was waiting for a storm to come, or for some great wave to take me further out – I wanted something radical to happen – an altering event.
I soon realized that my boat is just beating on against the currents. Back and forth between Skopje and Tabanovce it went. No great altering event really took place – not in one single moment that is.
Maybe it's the same with life. We tend to wait for that one great moment to change everything. I am a believer of those moments, but I am also a believer in those small currents that tug and pull until you eventually fine yourself in a completely different part of the lake. Without even trying and without taking control I found myself in a glorious place with Jesus.
There is one specific family at Tabanovce with whom I had built relationship over the past few weeks. Many times I would sit with them in their little UN container-house without saying anything (mainly because of the of the language barrier). Other times we would sit with my phone Google translating and trying to make sense of each other's lives. You learn a lot of things in moments like these – definitely humbling things. These people have so little, yet they give so much. In just one visit I was given three chocolate croissants, three small boxes of chocolate milk, cereal bars and a pack of chips. However there was another great act of kindness that completely baffled me, striking the chords of my heart.
In very little English the mother of this family asked me had I any brothers or sisters. I answered that I did not. She explained to me that she has five sisters. That's a lot of sisters. I don't see why she has any need for more. But she looked at me in the eyes and pointed at me. "You." That's all she says and pointed back at herself. I am a sister to her. What followed was a lot of laughs in the room pointing at each other exclaiming, "Brother! Sister!" I was quite undone, suddenly being adopted into a Afghan family who have been through so much. And by much I mean the Taliban being after them (this is what I could gather through Google Translate).
I'm so thankful that I got into my little boat with Jesus. Far away from the shore and that which has been so known to me. I'm so thankful for the currents God brings while on the voyage of this glorious thing called life. There's so much to be grateful for.
The big stuff only come around because of a series of little, defining encounters and currents.
What if God is asking you to get into your little boat and row far away from the shore of your comfort and to be open to His current. Big things are bound to happen, a lot of times through embracing the small, seemingly insignificant currents. God is not asking us to slay dragons, He's asking us to be obedient.
And while we're at it – let's enjoy the ride. With it comes the most breathtaking views and precious moments