The Other Thing that's Saving Me Now

Dear Friends in Christ -

A couple of days ago, I wrote that what's saving me now is good routine. That's absolutely true. It's also only about 2/3 of the equation. There's something else that's saving me now: Taking Risks.

A week ago, I got back from leading a mission team to Ecuador. I had never been to a third world country before. I had never been to South America before. With a church to run and a family to care for, the time away was enough of a stretch by itself. Not to mention the risk of traveling to a country where the President had been kidnapped by the police just weeks before.

My natural inclination is to manage fear with planning and not with the paralysis of worry. So I prayed like fury, did my research, made sure our team had the appropriate insurance coverage, packed a lot of bug spray and sunscreen and went.

The risk was worth it. I'm still in the process of articulating all the ways that the experience has re-shaped my heart and renewed my spirit. But one thing I was really humbled to discover - again - this time just in a new context: fear makes me hesitant to do things that I really CAN do. That I really SHOULD do. That I really MUST do in order to be the kind of follower Christ is calling me to be. The kind of disciple that makes a difference in the world.

The next risk God is calling me to take is this: to come to church and fill out a commitment card on Sunday. For Ed and me, this is a risk every year. I don't know if I've told many of you this, but in the 14 years of our marriage, Ed and I have been simultaneously employed at full-time, permanent jobs for only six months. Every single year, our employment and financial situations have been different - and often in ways that we couldn't predict the year before. And God has sustained us. And we're not in horrific debt. And we have followed our hearts and have the privilege of doing things we love.

We're still praying about our financial commitment to the Lord's work in the coming year. But we've made one firm commitment: we're showing up on Sunday (at 9:00 a.m.!!) to receive the gift of God's Spirit in worship, the gift of God's word through Bill Barfield, and the gift of fellowship over brunch. Please take the risk and join us.

Faithfully,
Janet+