FOOD FOR THOUGHT
(03/04/2012)
PRACTICING
THE PRACTICES
Cindy Hong
On the surface, the short-term missions
trip to Panama is described as a Youth English Camp. Pretty self-explanatory,
right? It's our version of Impact and D-Camp. In English, of course, which
is a given for us, but for Chinese Spanish-speakers like Felix, Miguel,
and Luisa, learning English is an added perk. During the week together,
opportunities abound to practice English: classes, worship, skits, and workshops.
Going in, I knew we'd be teaching English, spending time with the youth,
and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, what I received from
the time there exceeded these three and surpassed all pre-trip expectations.
Beneath the surface, takeaways abounded from the Lord, such as the privilege
of being a witness to what God is doing outside my world of Houston, getting
beyond myself and the usual self-absorption that makes my life all about
me. Living with my routine and in my bubble for so long, the time in Panama
required attempts to be less selfish, trying to practice things like submission
and surrender. Well, at least be more mindful of needing to practice these
things and ample opportunities to do so, despite failing miserably every
time as teammates can attest to. These things, so essential to being followers
of Jesus, do not happen by accident. Life must somehow be rearranged so
that we can do the little things that help us practice the big things. The
opportunities for practice are ample in Houston as well, but I'm not usually
in the mood to practice them or too stuck in my routine to even desire doing
something differently. Everything is lived at a blur. So perhaps God uses
short-term trips like Panama to break through my cloudy thinking and complacent
living. And perhaps God uses the church calendar, like the Lenten season,
to break through our routines and give us a 40-day opportunity to practice
surrender and submission, so that as we stop doing life as usual and engage
in new rhythms, this makes us available to God in new ways and allows Him
to form us into the likeness of His Son Jesus Christ. As we remember and
reflect today on the bread and cup—God the Son submitting to God the Father
and surrendering His life on the cross—may we this Lenten season find ways
to practice submission and surrender to the Father, so that we can be formed
into the likeness of the Son, rearranging life to make room for the Spirit
to accomplish the work of submission and surrender in us.
|
