It’s been a long day, and even though I’m dog tired (whatever THAT means), there were four basic thoughts that I wanted to throw out there before calling it a day …
First – today was one of those “travel days” … a day where I spent more time traveling than I did in interaction with people in meetings, but it’s always worth it … and today was certainly no exception. It was an expensive day … every day is here. The expenses today totalled roughly US $300 … just to meet and hopefully encourage other missionaries!
And for those who have missionaries serving anywhere in Europe, especially the United Kingdom, please increase your support for them! As of yesterday, it takes US $2.05 to purchase one British pound! In other words, with the exchange rate at this level, your missionary gets less than HALF the value for every dollar you give … but sometimes, that’s just the way it works!
Second, since I was spending a good amount of my day on trains and the Underground in London, I took a book written by a dear friend of mine – Vernon Brewer. A friend and former staff member – Dorcas Harbin – had given me a copy, and I chose today to read it, since I wasn’t exactly driving the trains and had free time!
Vernon and I, along with another colleague, Howard “Captain” Erickson, and I were traveling to the Philippines together back in 1984. The three of us were to connect on the West Coast. Howard was bringing my international airlines ticket with him, but his plane was late! Thankfully, I was able to get Philippine Airlines to hold the flight until my friend Howard arrived with my international ticket!
Then the three of us had to RUN across the entire airport to make the PAL flight to Manila. Vernon was huffing and puffing. I really “ragged” on him for being over-weight and out of shape .. and keep him running, gasping for air, all the way to the gate in order to make our flight … which we did. But when Vernon returned to Lynchburg, he went into the hospital, and had surgery for cancer … and the doctors removed five pounds of tumor from around his heart and lungs. But I digress …
Vernon authored a book about the entire scenario … simply titled Why? It was a powerful book … in part because I’ve known Vernon for a lot of years now, and can identify with the things about which he wrote in the book. All of that to say this … thanks, Vernon! You blessed my life again!
Third, my mission today was to connect with some very special missionaries near Windsor Castle. I’ll only use their first names, because of where they serve the Lord … but Glen and Shannon are very special people to me, because Shannon and my oldest daughter Charity have been very dear friends since their freshman year at Liberty University. I remember well when I first meet this trio of in-bound freshmen girls as they moved into the dorm on Liberty Mountain.
I’m also very thankful that Charity has such wonderful friends as Christy, Michaelann, and Shannon … it’s sort of like … well, I love them because they love my daughter … and I love them because my daughter loves them! It’s like … we’re family … even though I hardly ever see them!
But also, Glen and Shannon are very special people to me because of how they have chosen to spend their lives … serving God in a less-than-inviting environment, where encouragement can be hard to find. And yet, as we met for lunch in a McDonalds just across from Windsor Castle (HEH! … it’s where their three young daughters wanted to eat!!!), they shared with me some awesome events of how God is using them to make an eternal impact on a very unique people group!
Then, I raced back down the hill from Windsor Castle (I never really did get to see it!) and back onto a train to head back “home” to Wolverhampton … and dinner about 8:30 this evening … at one of my favorite places … The Woodman! Which leads me to the fourth thing that I had on my mind.
I love just lovin’ people for Jesus! After returning to my point of origin (so far as the trains were concerned today) at Stafford, England, this evening, I was starving. (I’m just not used to Big Mac’s and fries any more, I guess!) But I decided that I wanted to hold out for another 45 minutes until I could get back to The Woodman, where I’m building a few relationships of my own!
For more years than I like to admit, due to our family’s hectic schedule, much of our family meal times have been spent in restaurants! Now that I’m on my own … alone … in England, I am certainly not going to cook for one person! So, breakfast is usually a banana or a bowl of cereal, and lunch is a ham and cheese sandwich on mutli-grain bread (I’m HEALTH-CONSCIOUS, you know!), but I usually eat dinner out … most often at The Woodman.
And my point in telling you all of that, is to tell you this … I love lovin’ people!! It’s always very humbling to see how they take care of me … but when we talk about it, it’s like they wouldn’t do anything else, ’cause I’ve become their “favorite customer!” Isn’t it amazing how, when we genuinely love people, most of them will love us back?!
Could I ask you a question? Do you pray? If so, would you pray that my life is so seasoned with savory salt that a thirst will grow in the lives of the people with whom I relate day after day … and that, when they inquire as to a reason why I’m “different,” that I’ll be ready with the right words in expressing that reason … you know … the hope that lies within!? I’d be grateful!
