Lessons from Louisiana

Just a week ago I was in Louisiana standing next to some soap and bleach filled tubs washing juice boxes. Yeah you are probably thinking what in the world were you doing washing juice boxes in Louisiana? Aren't there houses that need to be rebuilt, painted and repaired? Aren't there people that have so many needs that need to be met even 2 years after the disaster of Katrina?

Yeah those were the questions that seemed to float through my head while I was scrubbing away. Why did God have me travel over 1100 miles to wash banana boxes full of juice boxes and spend my mornings playing with 3 years olds at Vacation Bible School?

At first it was a bit hard for me as I stood in the humid heat hands deep in the soapy water. I had assumed that going to Louisiana I would be doing the expected - rebuilding houses, meeting people who survived the storm and showing them the love of Christ by serving them.

I had thoughts that somehow those that got to go out and do the "expected" work were somehow getting a better deal than me. I felt like I was not really doing anything that would help anyone and my trip was somewhat of a waste. These horrible thoughts flooded my head and made me feel worthless and really be worthless to those around me. Thoughts not of the Spirit but of the voice of lies. And for awhile I let them win out.

Finally though I let myself hear the Spirit. Sadly it wasn't until the last day there so my lessons did not have much impact on my time there. But the lessons I learned are not ones limited to any time or place. And so I share them with you now knowing that they are lessons I need to keep hearing and keep learning and keep applying to my everday life in the midst of the mundane.

The first thing God showed me was that my duties and assignments in Louisiana did have impact. I remember one day playing outside with the children, looking around and realizing I was the only one there supervising 8 litte tots. I was needed and not just for looking after them but for the opporutunity to speak truth into their lives in the times when they needed to learn how to share and love one another. My duty of washing juice boxes was also just as important, as the task I was able to complete with several others in one week would have taken much longer for the two indiviuals who needed to get it done originally.

God also showed me that my task was important to the body as a whole because the juice boxes I cleaned filled the thirsty mouths of those who went out to work sites. A simple reminder to me of the many parts of the body of Christ needed to work together as one.

And finally my biggest reminder was that I need to open my eyes to God being everywhere. I think I really expected to really be "with" God by going out and working on a house and serving people in Louisiana.

And this is a lesson I need to learn daily. God is everwhere. He is with me at every moment and I just need to be open. He was there with me when I was playing with those kids and I could have been serving Him and worshipping Him just as easily there if my heart and attitude were right than I do in a Sunday church service. As Joanna Weaver says in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World "What a goal! That the moments of our lives, no matter how mundane, become aflame with the divine."

I am thankful for juice boxes, little kids and a God who is bigger and mightier than to just be with those building houses:)