Thursday, April 7, 2011

Dominoes

A game of Dominoes changed my life. Seriously.

I have been blessed to be able to meet some fantastic people that have literally been used by God to give so much joy to my heart. They have shown me what true contentment is like when Paul speaks in Philippians 4:12-13 ("I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.") I have been fortunate enough to have friends that just so happen to be homeless. When I go to hang out with them, we play Dominoes. Sometimes they win, sometimes I do and sometimes I think they let me win. Through a game that I used to play by just matching the pretty colors, God has opened my eyes and heart.

Before meeting them, I was okay with going about living the American dream. Sure, I wanted to be a missionary but that was for when I got to Africa. That was for a couple years down the road after I had completed seminary and had all the answers... This may come as a shock but I will never have all the answers. I may not even go to seminary. I may never go to Africa. These are all things that I have accepted and you know what? I am okay with it. Missions isn't for ten years down the road or that one week in the summer. Missions is my life. It is my life whether I am in Gainesville, Florida at Bo Diddley Plaza or Zambia, Africa.

These friends that I mentioned changed my life did so with a simple smile and a few kind words. They did so by caring about me. They did so by asking about my day and how life was going. They did so by cracking a few jokes after I had a rough day. They did so by love.