A Short Story (Still a Step Behind!) and A Question (How do I believe?)

Still a Step behind! (A Short Story)

In the beginning living in a foreign country is not easy.  You feel different, odd like you are a step behind everyone else.  Then, you start to understand the language, you start to understand the big picture around you, and you start to think you can blend into the crowd.  This was our mind set when we decided to go the village celebration of Les Ponts des Martels.

The festival started with a father/son run.  We arrived on time, took our place along the street and cheered as the runners went by.  Our status as one of the locals was confirmed as we were identified with a “Bonjour” from a few members of the community.  After the race, we took Noah on one of the carnival rides.

Paying attention to the crowd around us, we noticed people were moving into the local ice rink.  Unsure of what was happening, we nervously decided to follow.  Hoping to blend in, my wife and I walked together towards the ice rink, each holding one of Noah hands while allowing him to walk between us.

Within moments I started to feel uncomfortable and noticed that people were looking and laughing at us.  Uncertain of what was happening I looked at my wife . . . nothing out of the ordinary there. I then looked down at Noah.  Yup, he was smiling, could it be that I thought as I continued to scan the rest of him . . . pacifier, jacket, diaper . . . diaper!!!  Unbeknownst to us, as we had been walking, Noah’s pants had fallen down to his ankles.  So much for blending in.

 On the up side, a few more people are smiling and saying “Bonjour” to us in the community now!

How I believe -> A Leap of Faith (A Question)

How do I believe?  This question has been on my mind for a while now.  More specifically, what are the steps I take to encourage a Christian life?  As we are getting ready to leave Switzerland for the USA and then on to Togo for two years, I am left to ponder what I must do to encourage a Christian life.  In the same breath you could ask is it important?

Encouraging a Christian Life – 4 ideas

Believing in God is personal for me.  I do it through making a choice, following the example, listening and praying.  My relation with Christ is imperfect as I am a sinner and he is righteous.  I am put on guard when confronted by the expectation of others.

A Choice.  Believing in God is a choice for me.  I make this choice everyday not by completing a checklist of things to do.  I make this choice by believing in a God who died on the cross for our sins.  His actions justify my existence; and as such I do not have to prove my worth, I solely have to believe in him.

Following the Example.  As a young man trying to survive this world, I had idols, individuals who I admired and wanted to be like.  In each case, they have stumbled and fallen.  Which each fall, my life was turned upside down.  How am I to make decision and or live if I have no consistent guidance?  Today I choose Christ, his life and his death, as the example of how to live my life.

Listening.  Listening to God is a choice and is something I am learning to do.  It is difficult to listen to God when we are caught up in this world –work, expectations, money, etc.  As a young man, I chased position and opportunity, moving often in search of them.  I did not give God the opportunity to work in my life.  Today, like when I was young, I live with goals, aspirations and dreams, but I am allowing God to work in my life.

Praying.  Praying is a time of reflection of things that are happening not only in my life, but also in the lives of those around me.  Praying allows me to reflect on the nature of God, and it allows me to pass burdens and worries from my shoulders to God.

Is it important?

This is the million-dollar question.  The answer is yes as it is a matter of salvation.  But is there another way to answer this question?  I think there is.

If we look at the world around us, only one thing can be said which has been said by every generation: “What a mess!”

From wars to famine to financial crisis to you name it, we humans do one thing very consistently: we sin.

No set of laws, no monitoring system, no societal system can stop us.  The only thing that will make us better is individual responsibility and a vision of the future.

But in the absence or in our case the failure of a societal system, how do you develop individual responsibility and or a vision.  The answer is simple, have an example, have a vision.

The importance of the example/vision cannot be understated.  It would have to be the perfect example/vision.  It would have to be comprehensive, leaving no situation undefined or untouched.

Thus imagine that if you would, a comprehensive book that not only teaches us how to react in every incident such that individual responsibility would rein but would give us a vision for the future.  How would that change the actions of a bank giving out mortgages in the name of profit?  Or how would that change the actions of an individual trying to live beyond his/her means?

The question then becomes with the perfect example, with the perfect vision, how do you get individuals to follow it?  You can’t.  People must choose to follow it.  How are they going to choose to follow it?  They need to see it in action; they need to hear it in words.

Do not get me wrong, I am not against society, I am for it.  However, for it and its laws to work, we need something more.  We need something that will guide, direct, and motivate our actions.  Being a Christian is important.

Taking A Leap of Faith

 As a young manager, it was easy to make a decision when I had the solution at hand and/or I could see the outcome with certainty; on the other hand it was hard to make a decision when I had no solution or I could not see the outcome with certainty.  How do you fire someone with a critical skill set when you have no immediate replacement?  Take a Leap of Faith!  You have to believe that everything will work out if you make a decision for the right reasons, even if you can’t see the outcome.

 I encourage my Christian life by making a choice, following the example, listening, and praying.  I believe being a Christian is important.  I am taking a leap of faith that what I am dong will glorify God and have a positive impact on this world.

God Bless