I was part of a group of people once that was setting out to accomplish a certain task. We had several meetings before we left so we could get to know each other and to have a clear understanding of what our goal was and what it was not. Everything went great, with no hints of a future issue until we got to our destination. We no more hit the ground when one individual became someone they didn’t reveal beforehand. The next thing we started realizing is this one individual had their own agenda and goals. Worse yet, as they went about to achieve their goals they hurt others on the team by being rude, condescending, and hurtful. I wanted to ask them, “Just who do you think you are?”
Consider Psalms 69:5: God, you know every sin I’ve committed; My life’s a wide-open book before you.
God knows who you are better than you know yourself. Wouldn’t it be better to be your true self at all times then? To be an open book in front of everyone? So anyone who meets you sees the real you no matter what setting you are in? Perhaps that individual in the group was thinking, if I show who I really am I may not be allowed to go on this trip. I don’t honestly know what they were thinking, and in spite of them, the main goals set by the team were met, but there were souls wounded in the process, and the worst part of that is it was from friendly fire.
I have recently heard from an old friend. In the process of catching up I told them they could ask me anything. I told them, “My life is an open book where God’s the author.” I went on to say that the chapters I tried to write are messy.
Be open with people. Be honest. Be who you are. You won’t be all smooth and polished, for no one is perfect yet, but at least others who encounter you will know what they are getting into when they get to know you. That you too, like them, are a work in progress. Last night in a conversation with a friend where we were talking about how imperfect we are at times he asked, “Why do you think God continues to love us and put up with us?” I thought for a minute and replied, “Because He must think we are worth it.” He knows who we are, but He keeps His focus on who we can be in Him.
I just spent a week in Ndola, Zambia. If one just drives through some of the poorer communities, as we did, you are filled with guilt, compassion, and sorrow. We in America think we know how fortunate we are, but until you see firsthand how others on the same planet live you really don’t know the depth of our fortune.
By the end of our week some tears were shed as we c
elebrated God together and said our goodbyes. A lot had been accomplished as we visited each church of the seven in Fubuku. As we led a bible study in spiritual gifts, as we “tried” to stucco a mill house, and as we moved most of the 3000 concrete blocks into positions so those who did know what they were doing could put them in place. As we did some home visits to those who were HIV positive, or the widow who was raising 10 orphans on her own. This group of God believing, God fearing Zambians find ways to survive, not just
We feel our goal of building relationships was accomplished. We even gave them a 
picture of a person from my church section with their name, so they could pray for them. Then likewise we took their pictures holding up the photo of the one they selected. The response to this was overwhelming. They stood in a line, some for 30 minutes waiting for their turn to be photographed.
I just watched the movie, “The Martian”. Well written movies usually inspire me to write, so here I go. I am on my way to Zambia. Right now I am somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. 41,000 feet up in the air. The outside temperature is -85.0F. At least that is what flight status is telling me. Just watching the movie makes me aware there is a lot that could go wrong, but I have hope that we will arrive at our final destination.
brady, mark a. 