7:40pm
As I sit crammed into a United Airlines flight we almost didn't make it onto, 14 hours after waking up this morning and less than 2 hours into what promises to be at least a 24 hour journey from Seattle, Washington to Loja, Ecuador; I am contemplating a return to a coffee addiction that I haven't practiced while in the United States, but I have decided to take up writing run-on sentences as a new vice instead.
The night is falling over northern California outside the plane, and as it does, the United States fades into the distance for Johanna and I. We have faced some final challenges to following Christ in the United States through a stressful check in process during an emotional farewell. I hope that I held my temper well enough as the United Airlines employee moved us from the first class line they had erroneously sent us to. They made us wait in that line for 15 minutes before moving us to the end of the low class line at the far end of the 100 foot long counter. All this happened less than an hour before our flight took off. The one time I really had to hold my tongue was when the manager on duty not only told us we were in the wrong line but he also argued that no one had told us to stand in that line. My pride told me to stand my ground for truth, justice, and the American way, but the manager told me to move and with a cross as the symbol of Christ who I serve around my neck for all to see, I decided to follow Christ's example and give up some of my rights.
God provided for us so that even with a burst can of shaving cream in our carry on bag, we still made it through the security check point in time to walk directly onto our flight without all the tedious lounging around at the gate that one normally has to put up with. (If you ever want to repeat this shaving cream trick just pull the rubber stopper from the bottom of a can of shaving cream.)
Once on the plane, I got one last chance to avert my eyes or see women undress on American television courtesy of NBC on United. (Not that this won't be a challenge in Ecuador as well.) I was reminded again of the fact that we represent Christ where ever we are. Our actions should honor Christ at all times, but I especially hope that I don't shame him publicly. (God answer this plea with help from your spirit. Thank you Jesus for the example you set and the forgiveness you purchased.)
I don't think that being a missionary should really so different from being a Christian anywhere except perhaps that going into another culture we will stand out even more and so our lives must be that much more careful so as not to bring shame to Christ by our actions. (I guess people won't be staring so much this time in South America now that I don't have such a long beard.)
Well Johanna is sleeping and I think I would like to relax and listen to "The Man Who was Thursday" by GK Chesterton as performed by the Mercury Players with Orson Wells. I found it online as an MP3 last night while I was reading about this strange GK Chesterton play that deals with the problem of evil in the world in much the same way as the book of Job. Evil exists and we can fight it even though it hurts, but in overcoming evil we can have the peace of God. God's explanation to Job was to point to the creation and ask, "Do you even understand creation? If you don't understand that, how can you question my actions?" I am excited to hear it. I didn't even know that it existed as a radio drama much less that it was aired only 2 months before the infamous broadcast of the "War of the Worlds".
Well there is a stream of consciousness blog entry for you. Not sure if I will clean it up, or even post it, but it was fun to write.
-Micah
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