Ten Minute Musings

That is me, there in the middle, hanging by the homemade rope; at least that is how I feel on some days anyway.

This poor lizard was still breathing when we saw him, but I’m not sure he made it for much longer. He seemed to be on his way out.

We are hosting interns right now. Where did they get all that energy? Where has ours gone?

They do bring a great bit of liveliness with them, though, and we keep pace, for a while, and then we kind of resemble the lizard at left.

Worn out and hanging by a thread.

It’s worth it though. I love telling the stories to them, the stories of faith and God’s power. In fact, it actually revives me quite a bit.

Thought in my next few posts I would revisit some of those stories with you all and maybe they’ll revive me enough to bite that guys kneecap.

Maybe they’ll encourage you too. I hope so.

Have you ever had one, a scary moment, where you realized, in an instant, that you had crossed a certain line, usually placed ambiguously, and there was no turning back, no ‘do-over’s.

These moments don’t have to be enshrouded with dark mysterious music, creaks, and screams. Often they come in the quiet moments of a conversation. Usually it is the surprise that gets you.

Isn’t that the way it is? “SURPRISE”!

I was just having a casual conversation over lunch with a missionary colleague from Burkina Faso the other day and the next thing I knew, while I was responding to a question, he took out a little note pad and started taking notes.

Terror gripped me.

Some of you may be laughing at this moment. You are enjoying the irony. You want to guffaw at the thought of me being quotable as you bask in the memories of the Marty of old. Yes, I find it truly ironic and very laughable as well.

Anyway, I trust Andy implicitly. It wasn’t a terror from potential entrapment, I have had those as well. It was, instead, the realization that he considered something I said worth remembering. That is a scary moment; when you become aware of the weight of your words.

Not everybody takes notes. A lot of people just listen and remember. Sometimes words not too well remembered can get us in grave danger. I think I prefer the note-takers because at least they are a visual reminder that you just might be quoted on that at a later date.

Experience creeps up on us. It has now been almost eleven years for us in Togo. We’ve been through and learned quite a bit, but still find ourselves lacking! To quote me is a risky move, although, just the thought that I might be quoted really brings me into check to consider my words before they escape me. In any consideration of me fulfilling the “mentor” / teacher role, though, I mentally reread James 3:1:

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

So, forgive my hesitation, the next time you ask me a question. I’m just considering my options for reply.

I love retreats and I loathe returning from retreats. Have you ever noticed that it is almost as if others sense that you’ve been recharged and they purposefully attempt to bring you back down off the mountain to …

reality.

I think maybe I have had it some wrong. I have looked at retreats from an incorrect angle. I usually had expectations of resting and returning with a profound increase in energy, physically ready to take on the world.

I am the father of four sons. I will probably be physically tired for a long time to come. If I base the good of getting away to a lonely place with God on how I feel physically, then as I am being hammered by the world on my return, I might be a little …

disappointed.

There has to be more to it than that. If I can change my perspective, though, and look a little more intuitively at the spiritual healing that comes from being refreshed on the mountain, then I will see …

strength for the coming days; faith that moves mountains; patience that can withstand the border crossing between Ghana and Togo; and love, his perfect love for me that drives out all fear.

That might just last a little longer than the troubles of the return and may even reshape…

reality.

So our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:17-18.

Reality according to Jesus. The world looks a bit different.

Aren’t we a good looking bunch!

I didn’t know for sure that I could, just sit and look, and listen. I could and I did.

And, I stood amazed, while sitting, of course.

The waves rolled in over the rocks so loudly that it could wake you up at night. The lightning lit up the sky on one night and on another there were so many stars, well, that it seemed I saw a few million new ones. It was incredible. It screamed, “GLORY!”

We are surrounded by God’s glory, but so often we don’t sit and take it in. It just bounces off of us and the moment is lost, because we aren’t looking for Him and his glory.

We are a bit busy for all that, reflecting and musing stuff.

I came across a phenomenal verse this week. I have seen it many times, but in the setting of Coconut Grove overlooking the Atlantic I tripped over it.

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

I just had to stop and say, “Excuse me?” “My actions, words, and very life could cry out, ‘glory’ just as dramatically as this diverse and impossibly beautiful setting on the coast of Africa.

Something to consider.

God is only hoping.

I was shocked by what I saw in Lome last Friday at my mechanic’s “shop”. One of his apprentices walked by and I did a double take. Calling him over for inspection confirmed my suspicions. He had escaped from his previous employer and had found his way to Togo. He even still had his Wal*Mart vest on.

Could this be a mirage? Upon further investigation he revealed that he is Togolese and has never left. Alas, does this mean there is now a Wal*Mart in Togo, for here before my very eyes was a “vested” employee (albeit of the mechanical persuasion)?

Or is this the reality washing up on the shores of Togo, West Africa? Wal*Mart is now so prolific that

employee clothes are for sale in the third world.

Or is this a foreshadowing of Wal*Mart’s future ventures into the African market?

Oh that we could waltz into a Wal*Mart with ease and take a gander at the multitude of products lining the shelves.

Sigh.

Next week I’m going to the beach.  It is for a retreat with our other missionary friends in West Africa that we call WAMR.  Usually it is held at Coconut Grove in Elmina, Ghana and this year will be no exception.  It is a wonderful time of renewal, but I usually don’t come back very renewed.  It might be because the hotel also has a nine hole golf course and I usually spend my renewal time trying to get the little white orb to go in the little white cup.

I think this year I am going to spend more time … just sitting.

This is not like a new year’s resolution.  This is the me I’m becoming.  I am beginning to see the value of just sitting.  For when I just sit, I hear things, like the ocean, like the laughter of my children, like the songs of various birds, like the beautiful voice of my wife, and other amazing things.  I see things that normally escape my line of sight.

Before you all jump on me about saying that I can’t go to Coconut Grove without playing golf, I must say that you are absolutely right.  It would not be the correct thing to do.  It is tradition that I hit the ball, several times.  I am just vowing ahead of time to opt out of a few rounds and just sit while taking in the wonder of God.

Wish you could be there with us, just sitting,

praising Him for all He has done, and dreaming of all that He is going to do.

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.  Psalm 126:3

One thing I love about the Bible is the way it comes to life in dramatic and very undeniable ways creating within us an experience that deepens with time and has far reaching effects.

There is a leader in Ahepe named Feli who for many years was at best a churchgoer. About six years ago, Feli became the default leader of the church in his neighborhood. He was still selling lottery tickets and riding the fence of sincerity. He wanted to believe, but just wasn’t sure if he could depend on God to really take care of his family.

About two years ago a gracious opportunity presented itself to Feli that upon giving up the lottery he would have ownership of a corn grinder and begin a new chapter.

He took it. This is equivalent to a loss of at least 50% of his income. Since then he has vaulted the fence and has really grown in his love for Jesus.

There were two “Bible come to life” events for Feli last week that really encouraged me. Two ladies had missed worship on Sunday morning. So, in the afternoon Feli went looking for them. He found them in their fields grinding and cooking cassava to sell at market on Monday. He began encouraging and working with them and before he left they sent him home with a huge bowl of roasted cassava which his family ate throughout the week. Then on Thursday, Togo’s labor day, Feli was called to a feast. Upon arriving, there were several men gathered who were decked out in their festive garments ready to eat. Feli was invited to bless the meal. After the meal was over the group requested for Feli to share a message from the Bible. He taught from Matthew chapter six about how God blesses us and takes care of all our needs if only we will seek him and his will. His message was well received and he went on his way.

It hit me as I sat with him this past Friday, how dramatically his life has changed and how even the cynical population of his village has taken note of this transformation. What happened? What made the difference? He took God at his word and God is faithful.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

O.K., I have a confession.  In my desire to write with wit and depth I regularly go for quite a bit longer than ten minutes.  Maybe I should change it to

thirty minute musings which take  two minutes to read

Or maybe what is true is that it would take others only ten minutes to muse conclusively what it takes me thirty minutes to arrive at.

Forgiven?

Thanks.  I feel much better now.

I’ll just keep the title if that is o.k.  It is kind of African of me anyway.  Why just the other day when Tucker and I headed up the mountain to take our jump we couldn’t find a taxi cab.  So we just began walking up the road.  I thought, well, it shouldn’t take too long.  Then, after five minutes I saw someone coming down and I asked this woman how long it would take to get to the top.  She, who was not wearing a watch, volunteered that 30 minutes would be sufficient for the journey.  Tucker and I began marching briskly and only about 30 percent of the way up and thirty minutes later did I realize the gross error that I had made.  Blessedly two motorcycle taxis showed up just after my confessing this miscalculation to Tucker and him forgiving me.  They hauled us to the top for a mere dollar each and we flew.

So, I guess in an African sort of way ten minutes can be anywhere from five to fifty.

There I go, self-justification at its best.