Adventures for the Cause

I was about five years old when my father hosted a seminar whose materials arrived on an eighteen-wheeler truck.  During the week it was in town, Dad and I admired the vehicle up close and made friends with the driver.  Well before dawn on its departure day, we drove to see him off.  Since Dad needed to follow the truck from its parking spot to a point in the neighborhood where we’d part ways, he asked if I wanted to ride in the semi’s cab for that short stretch.  You bet I did!  As Dad lifted me up to the trucker, who set me on the seat beside him, I could hardly believe such a dream was coming true!

When the engine roared to life, however, I had second thoughts.  The noise was deafening and disconcerting.  The truck cab felt nothing like a passenger vehicle.  The ground was VERY far below me.  In the pre-dawn darkness, all seemed strange and threatening.  I’m not sure what I said or did to betray my feelings, but soon, to my immense relief, the trucker handed me back down to my father, who with an understanding smile took me to our destination in the familiar comfort of his car.

Yet even as we set out, I regretted giving way to my fears.  What did I think would have happened to me in that truck?  I would have been fine.  Yes, it was scary, but aren’t adventures scary?  When would I ever have the chance to ride in an eighteen-wheeler again?  (If memory serves me correctly, another opportunity has yet to come my way.)  I determined then and there that never again would I let fear hold me back from adventure.

I remembered that decision around 8pm last Monday night, as I was battling fatigue and hunger to finish compiling our pastors’ conference manual which was to have been submitted to the printer that morning.  Instead of griping about the discomfort of having to stay in the office late, I decided to revel in the privilege of squeezing graphic design and proofing into all my other responsibilities for this theological training event for church leaders from various provinces.  I remembered, too, my brother-in-law’s priceless advice as I set out on my first extended overseas adventure in Christ’s service:  “If you’re not laughing, you’ll be crying.”

The choice of a positive attitude makes all the difference!  That’s a lesson I also learned in Valerie A. Rance’s Trauma and Coping Mechanisms, a well-researched study on how foreign Christian workers handle trauma.  She shows that optimism significantly decreases the negative effects of stress, supporting that conclusion with both Biblical references and a modern-day study.

In the countdown to our pastors’ conference that begins on July 23, each day has brought more squeezes in our race to prepare.  On Tuesday we had to implement significant changes to our procedures to protect ourselves against theft.  On Wednesday we had to buy a new printer because all of our existing printers had problems at the same time.  We had nametags, meal cards, and lodging cards to make.  There were messages to send out with final details about the conference, and transportation subsidies to arrange.  Quantities of recipe ingredients for meals had to be calculated, bought, and stored.  Roommate requests had to be organized.  Work schedules for our employees and volunteers had to be made.  And on and on the list goes.

Time and time again, I’ve had to remind myself of my choice to embrace adventure instead of complaining about the inconvenience and stress.  I can’t tell you how many times at work this week I laid my head in my hands to momentarily cry about the pressure of all that I must accomplish.  And then, each time, I lifted my head again, choosing to sacrifice a bit more of my time to accomplish one more task that will bless the pastors who come to learn at our conference.  And then another.  And then another.

I’m so grateful for God’s patience with me as I seek to deal Biblically with my workload that feels overwhelming at times.  I’m also grateful for my co-workers’ grace when I lose my temper or blame them for problems that aren’t their fault.  To me, the most precious aspect of this brief spurt of intense busy-ness is the opportunity for me to be sanctified and for Christ to be glorified in me by making His power perfect in my weakness.

And I trust that the sacrifices He calls me to make are for His good purposes.  I believe that He will draw many to faith in Christ and a deeper understanding of the gospel.  There’s no more worthwhile adventure than that!  In the words of the Getty hymn:

For the cause of Christ the King
We give our lives, an offering
’Til all the earth resounds
With ceaseless praise
To the Son.

For the cause of Christ we go
With joy to reap, with faith to sow,
As many see
And many put their trust in the Son.

For the King once lifted high
To cries of rage, of “crucify!”,
Endured the cross
As every sin was laid
On the Son.

To the King who conquered death
To free the poor and the oppressed
For lasting peace,
For life and liberty
In the Son.

Let it be my life’s refrain:
To live is Christ, to die is gain;
Deny myself, take up my cross,
And follow the Son