What price would you pay? This was just one of the questions left on my heart after I returned from a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. I shared some of my stories with our Church a few weeks after I got back and thought I would share some of the questions on my heart with you.
I had this unique opportunity to go visit some of the missionaries living on the island of Hispanola through GO Ministries in Louisville, Ky. This was my 2nd trip of what I'm sure will be many to come. The Staff that live and serve there are remarkable people. Each of them different in their own way, I learned as I got to know them and worked alongside of them, but yet all having the same goals, furthing the Kingdom of God.
At 35 years old, which is older than dirt to my 10 and 12 year olds, but is still quite young to most people, I have lived a life of adventure my whole life, both before Christ and since. My body, although not aged in years but in mileage, shows signs of wear, scars, and tattoos. But I live life each day with the daily thoughts in mind of the great writer Og Mandino:
"This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it. May I have sufficient wisdom and courage that this shall be my record for today."
Today, in some way, I want to glorify God. God has given me this day to use, and I want to use it wisely. Many times in my life I should have left this world. The bad choices I made in my past still remind me with aches and scars, but my life now I live for Him and in Him. I've learned to make good choices, and to invest in good things like people.
In my career as a construction supervisor, I travel a wide area of the states from project to project. The other morning I found myself looking out across a small creek at God's beauty, and in the afternoon over a large river watching an eagle fly searching for food. As I magnified his beautiful creations in my mind, my thoughts went back to half clothed children awaiting lunch at the feeding center in Batey Nueve. At first glance these children are much like those we have all seen on TV, but what I see in my heart and remember is the warmth of their smiles. These are God's most beautiful creation. Although poor and more often than not malnurished, they are not forgotten by Him.
As American's we want to change the world to our standards of living, but having been there, I wouldn't change their hearts for everything in the world. Although they have almost nothing, and need much, they have something alot of people here in the states don't have, the peace of God.
The time I spent with the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the past two trips will live in my heart and memories the rest of my life.
They told me on the first trip to take time to decompress, to adjust back to American life, and I tried as much as I knew how, but I was left with this thought: I don't want to, I want these feeling to remain. The passion in my heart wakes me from my dreams of walking down the streets of Santiago on my way to morning devotional with friends. Thoughts of praying in an unfinished sanctuary in Hato de Yaque. Thoughts of high fives and hugs, playing with kids in the orphanage. Thoughts of how I can get back.
Questions left unanswered: What do I do now? Where do we go from here? My heart wants to serve. How does God want me to be involved? What can I do to help? I have begun the long task of self examination. A life inventory if you will, of where I am, and where am I going. This difficult task has so many variables: How do I position myself to serve? How far am I willing to go to serve the cause of Christ? What price would I pay?
My Dad worried about me while I was gone, as any Dad would, but I ask him "Do you believe in the cause?" Is it worth the cost of all I have to reach one person for Christ? I guess at the end of time I would have to say yes. But what about the here and now?
I guess it rang home with me during the 'Missions nite' service, where the first picture was taken, when I heard myself talk about a cup of coffee. For less than my cup of coffee I could have feed one child for the day. For less than my cup of coffee I could of sent one more child to school with uniforms and books to get a christian education. For less than my cup of coffee I could have made a difference in someones life. So how can I sit by and do nothing?
Life is about choices. Today I want to choose to spend my day for good and not evil, for gain and not loss. I want to choose to make a difference in someones life. I sat reading a book the other morning on my balcony hotel room, over looking a foggy golf course. And as I read the pages of Andrew Murray on Prayer I stopped to pray and thank God for the life He has given me. The opportunities and trials that have made me who I am. The places I get to visit and the things I get to see, all remind me that we are but a small part in this world, but like a stone tossed into a crystal mountain lake on a calm morning, a small touch can go a long way. We each need a word of encouragement from time to time. We each need to feel that we are important in some way. It's some of life's basic needs. You can be that encouragement, you can be that touch in someone's life. Today I want to stir the water in someone's life. I'm fortunate I guess that the guys on my crew are Christians. We get to sit around and share these thoughts with each other. Share our problems and our prayers. And sometimes even have the opportunity to share these with others that we meet along life's road. I started a book a few years ago that I titled A trip down the road. It's both literal in the stories of my travels and inspirational from my spiritual journey. God has brought it back to my mind and maybe it's time to put 'pen to paper' once again and finish it. Diane Miller from GO Ministries has already requested a copy, so I guess if it touches one person it's worth the effort.
So where do we go from here? The next step: A full month trip with the whole family to test the 'waters'. I use that word meaning the spiritual stream of God to see what direction it flows. I'm in the process of passport applications for the rest of the family, and downsizing my American lifestyle. Working through my personal finances to bring overhead down to a minimum. Assembling a prayer team to join in prayer for guidance and direction. Then shortly the task of Fund raising, of which some people have already began to commit funding. Setting Goals for the trip and getting the ball rolling.
I leave you with these thoughts; Life is fast and hard, take time out to evaluate where it is taking you. The roads you travel make an impact on peoples lives, both good and bad. In the end, I want my children and my family to look back at their lives and mine and say "We made a difference." My wife Felicia, My daughters Candace and Brooke, and Myself believe in and pray for the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. And we invite you to join us.
Remember Look up, Live Life, and Be Thankful.
Kevin ~ Living Life
