Thinking BIG - an anecdote

Reflecting upon the lessons learnt at the few ignite talks I've been to in the last week, I realised that God had been giving me lessons in thinking outside my own little world in not just theoretical ways, but also practically as well. And it is quite amazing how much of a difference it makes to (try to) think of it from God's perspective.

The whole reason why I could go to Ignite at all was because of the rains and flooding that prevented me from going out west. At first I was pleasantly surprised at the unexpected extended weekend, (forgetting the fact that my holiday was bought at the expense of others' pain). But then, I realised that I had left my passport at Goondiwindi. And that was a big problem because I was due to go to HK on Friday!

At first I wasn't too concerned because I thought the roads would clear up soon enough and I would be able to go back. But as the road blocks dragged on, I had to face up with the reality that I might not be able to go. This wasn't just any trip to HK; for particular reasons that I won't get into, it was particularly special to me and I really wanted to go and had actually been waiting for it for months! And to come right to the doorstep of it and not be able to go was just really disappointing for me.

How, then, should I pray?

At this time, I had started going to Ignite, and the lessons about thinking BIG, thinking God-sized Gospel-shaped prayers had begun to kick in. It took a bit of wrestling, but eventually I was able to rest upon the fact that, no matter what happens, God has His Big Plans, and so long as these are fulfilled and He gets the glory, nothing else really matters. What's a 12-day trip to HK and visiting a few friends in the face of Eternity? Pathetically small and insignificant, really. Yes, I would still really like to go, and yes, I would still be disappointed if I couldn't go, but in the end if it means that I can further God's glory back in Brisbane in some way, then it will be fine.

And so I waited.

Days passed and it looked like it was looking more and more like I was going to stay in Brisbane. I had settled my heart with the thought of staying. I was prepared.

And then a phonecall came from Gundy: There was news that the roads were going to open up soon! Furthermore, the my practice had decided that I should just stay back in Brisbane for the rest of the week and I shouldn't risk it getting out there, and since the owners were going to come to Brisbane anyway, they would bring me my Passport so I could go on my holiday!

I was (cautiously) delighted, of course :)

But my mind was still filled with the thoughts about the BIGness of God, and how insignificant little things like my trip were. And I became amazed at another thing: how nice it was of my Father that even though He was so very big, He would still take such close attention to the little things, like letting me go on that trip :) I am not the Centre of the Universe. But the Centre of the Universe loves me deeply :)

Praise God that, as Mighty as He is, He loves us so tenderly and intimately that He cares for such tiny details as my little trip to HK :)

"I don't know what's going to happen, that's alright with me;

I open up my arms and embrace the mystery" - India Arie 

(What I'm listening to at the time of finishing this up :) )