Being a bit serious for a change

When in Mongolia ... A cow's head and a South African's body

Hopefully this post will encourage some of you out there...

I’ve discovered over the years that life isn’t necessarily easy (duh!). Often there are things in our lives that look too complicated, confusing and scary for us that we just go quiet, go into our shells and deal only with those things we know we can handle.

And yet I’ve discovered that my life has been fuller when I’ve tackled the challenges. Many years ago I went to Mongolia to help a church there, and after a few months the church leaders asked if I would stay longer than the three months I had originally committed to. Many people had commended me for the adventurous heart I had, for giving up all I gave up to go to the ends of the earth (including a steady job, my friends and family). But to be honest, I just felt like a fraud – I became more terrified the closer I got to making the decision to stay or to go. I struggled with the fact that I was a single guy in a foreign land where few spoke the same language, I was terrified of not having enough money, and of being lonely ... I was just plain scared. And so I left at the end of the three months, brought to my knees by my fears. And I’m not particularly proud of the fact...

Since then, I have tried to live a life of more faith. I’ve tried to tackle challenges with the strength of One outside of myself. I’m still single, once again in a foreign land, and still "financially challenged"... The battles and trials are still there. The only thing that has changed is how I choose to deal with them...

Our church's little sound desk. Actually quite simple when you know how...

I was just thinking of that this week as I sat behind the sound desk at church (with all its knobs, buttons, bells and whistles) tweaking and twirling in order to get the worship to sound as good as possible. While in France, serving a church there, I used to look at their little desk in confusion and say to myself, “That’s way too complicated. I will never learn how to use it.” And yet, here I sit. I saw the need, put away my pride and lack of confidence, was trained by an excellent teacher, and have since trained others. Similarly, I taught myself how to use Photoshop in order to design bulletins and welcome postcards and coffee signs for the church. I have learned that God’s grace sustains me. I entrust myself to Him and dive into the challenges (most of the time). 

Now I truly live.

What do you have in your life that you would love to try but haven’t had the confidence to do? Well, perhaps you should think less of how you could be made to look foolish; think less of yourself and more of others and in the words of Nike, “Just do it.” What’s the worst that could happen?

(Tomorrow I'll blog about two young ladies I met in Mongolia - both of whom inspired me)

A group of young people we took abseiling (rappelling) in the Mongolian countryside.  In the front is Rob Forbes, a South African who packed up his family, and moved with them to Mongolia in the dead of winter (with a suitcase of belongings each) to start a church. Behind him is Scott Clement, a missionary from the States who did a similar thing - both giants of the Faith...